Mandatory Continuing Legal Education, Report Of Compliance

(a) Except as qualified in section (b), each attorney duly admitted and licensed to practice in this State shall complete not less than 36 hours of approved coursework in Continuing Legal Education during each three-year period the attorney is licensed in this State. Beginning in the 1993 reporting year, three hours of this thirty-six hour triennial requirement shall be in the area of ethics or coursework commonly considered professional responsibility, including coursework related to racial and ethnic diversity, gender equity, disability access, and the elimination of bias in the profession. (b) A Report of Compliance, in the form set by the Commission, must be filed by each attorney with the Commission by July 30 after the close of each three-year reporting period for the attorney under the following schedule: (1) The reporting periods for attorneys who were licensed to practice in this State prior to 1978 and who have secured an annual license to practice in this State every year since then are: (i) from July 1, 1985, to June 30, 1988, for those whose last name in 1977 began with the letter A through G; (ii) from July 1, 1986, to June 30, 1989, for those whose last name in 1977 began with the letter H through N; and (iii) from July 1, 1984, to June 30, 1987, for those whose last name in 1977 began with the letter O through Z. Subsequent reporting periods conclude on June 30 every three years thereafter. (2) The reporting periods for all other attorneys begin on July 1 succeeding the date the attorney initially secures a license to practice in this State, or succeeding the date the attorney secures relicensure after a period of nonlicensure in this State of one or more years, and concludes on June 30 three years later. Subsequent reporting periods will conclude on June 30 every three years thereafter. (c) Each attorney shall pay a fee not to exceed $50 as set by the Commission for expenses for operation of the Commission, to the State Bar Association of North Dakota—Commission for Continuing Legal Education, at the time of filing the Report of Compliance.