Pennsylvania Supreme Court Grants CLE Credit for Pro Bono Service in New Pilot Program

The Pennsylvania Supreme Court recently approved a new Continuing Legal Education (CLE) pilot program that will promote pro bono service, increasing support for civil legal aid for low-income Pennsylvanians.

Licensed Pennsylvania lawyers will soon be able to earn a portion of their mandatory CLE credit hours through pro bono service.

The Pennsylvania Supreme Court sees the new program as a perfect opportunity to further the Court’s commitment to legal aid while allowing lawyers to fulfill their annual CLE requirements for maintaining their licenses.

The three-year pilot program, developed in conjunction with the Pennsylvania Supreme Court’s CLE Board, will allow registered Pennsylvania attorneys to receive one CLE credit for every five hours of pro bono legal work completed. Annually, registered Pennsylvania lawyers are required to earn 12 CLE credits, including two hours of ethics credit. Lawyers participating in the new pilot program can earn up to three credits per year toward their annual requirement.

The CLE Board considers the program a “win-win situation for volunteer lawyers and legal service providers.”

Legal service providers’ participation in the program is voluntary. By early 2019, those seeking to participate in the program will be able to apply for Approved CLE Prover status from the CLE Board.

Learn more about the pilot program from The Supreme Court of Pennsylvania Continuing Legal Education Board.