Business and Professions Code - BPC
DIVISION 3. PROFESSIONS AND VOCATIONS GENERALLY
CHAPTER 5.6. Paralegals [6450 - 6456] (Chapter 5.6 added by Stats. 2000, Ch. 439, Sec. 1.)
In accordance with Business and Professions Code §6450(d):
- Every two (2) years all California Paralegals (contracting with and/or working under the direction of a supervising attorney) are required to certify their completion of the following Mandatory Continuing Legal Education (MCLE) participatory credit hours;
- Four (4) hours of General Law or an area of Specialized Law credit, and
- Four (4) hours of Legal Ethics credit, a required total of eight (8) MCLE credit hours.
- all California paralegals are responsible for certifying and retaining their biennial compliance of MCLE credits during their employment history (a verifiable compliance record).
- any California paralegal that fails to meet the biennial MCLE requirements will be deemed out of compliance with California law and not qualified to be a paralegal in California.
- A paralegal's compliance term begins:
- once they start their paralegal employment (contracting with and/or working under the supervision of an attorney) as provided in BPC §6450(a).
- if a student has achieved (in compliance under BPC §6450(c)(1) or (c)(2) or (c)(3)), their degree or earned their certificate from a valid or approved paralegal program, they will be required to obtain MCLE participatory credit hours once the graduate has actually started working as a paralegal by an employer and is performing duties under the direction of a supervising attorney.
All Mandatory Continuing Legal Education (MCLE) participatory courses shall meet the requirements of BPC §6070 (being directed to the licensee/attorney) and the Rules of the State Bar of California.
State Bar Rule Definitions:
- "A credit hour” is sixty minutes actually spent in an MCLE activity. A credit hour is reported to the nearest quarter hour in decimals, and includes time for introductory and concluding remarks and for questions and answers.
- A “participatory activity” is an MCLE activity for which the provider must verify attendance. Participatory activities may be presented in person or delivered by electronic means."
An MCLE activity:
- General MCLE activity must relate to legal subjects directly relevant to licensees of the State Bar and have current significant educational professional, or practical content, with an objective to increase each participant’s professional competency as an attorney.
- Activities designed for non‐attorney participants will not be approved for general MCLE credit.
- Activities that focus on the ethics of business, corporate or government affairs, or society, in general, do not qualify for MCLE credit.
Be sure to observe California Rules of Professional Conduct and CAPA Ethics Guidelines (About Paralegals tab)
Important Notes:
1) Paralegals are only required to earn and report participatory credit hours in the sub-field of "Legal Ethics."
2) Paralegals may attend any MCLE events that provide certain sub-field participatory credit hours for attorneys; however, they will be considered General Law credit if submitted for MCLE compliance.
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