Basic skills course requirement

41.12(1) Every Iowa attorney admitted to practice by examination after December 31, 2008, but before January 1, 2015, must complete a Basic Skills Course. The course must be completed within one year of the newly admitted attorney’s date of admission to practice in Iowa. The course may If the course be completed after the last day of the bar examination that resulted in admission. is completed after the last day of the bar examination, but the applicant fails the examination, the applicant will remain in compliance with this rule so long as the applicant passes the next examination offered. December 2023 CONTINUING LEGAL EDUCATION Ch 41, p.5 41.12(2) The Basic Skills Course must total at least eight actual hours of instruction and include at least one actual hour qualifying for credit in the area of legal ethics. The course will include instruction on Iowa law selected from at least eight of the following topic areas: Civil Procedure Criminal Law Criminal Procedure Family Law Guardianships, Conservatorships, Trusts, and Powers of Appointment Business Entities Probate Torts Contracts Real Estate Transactions Ethics and Professionalism 41.12(3) Newly admitted attorneys shall be entitled to claim credit for attendance at an accredited Basic Skills Course against the continuing legal education requirements of rules 41.3 and 42.2, but are not exempt from reporting and fee payment duties of rule 41.4. 41.12(4) An attorney who fails to complete the Basic Skills Course within one year of the date of admission may have the right to practice law suspended under the provisions of rule 41.5. 41.12(5) The commission may, in individual cases involving hardship or extenuating circumstances, grant waivers of the Basic Skills Course requirement or extensions of time in which to complete the Basic Skills Course. 41.12(6) The Basic Skills Course may be offered by any provider of continuing legal education, but must be reviewed and accredited by the Commission on Continuing Legal Education as provided in Iowa Court Rule 42.4. The Basic Skills Course may be conducted in installments over time, and may be offered by computer-based transmission as provided in Iowa Court Rule 42.3. Any provider of the Basic Skills Course is required to report attendance in the manner specified by the commission. [Court Order October 9, 2009; November 24, 2010; January 21, 2015; December 13, 2017, effective January 1, 2018]