– Types of Activities that Qualify for Credit

STATE LAW LIBRARY OF MONTANA Joseph P. Mazurek Justice Building 215 North Sanders Street PO Box 203004 Helena, MT 59620-3004 Website: courts.mt.gov/library Email: [email protected] Phone: 406-444-3660 Fax: 406-444-3603 A. All activities must meet the standards set forth in Rule 8B. The following methods of presentation will be considered for credit: 1. Interactive seminars – a member must earn a minimum of ten credit hours per year by attending interactive seminars. An interactive seminar is an activity where the instructor and at least four other participants are available to interact with each other for the purpose of further discussion or answering questions. 2. Other methods – a member may earn a maximum of five credit hours per year by any one or a combination of the following other methods: a. Using audio- or video-produced material; interaction with instructors and other participants; b. Participating in online activities that do not provide published by an ABA-accredited law school; c. Writing an article which appears in any Law Review subsequent to being admitted to the State Bar of Montana; d. Attending courses taught at an ABA-accredited law school e. Teaching and preparing written materials for an approved activity or continuing education programs for judges, including limited jurisdiction judges who are not licensed attorneys, paralegals under the supervision of an attorney, or legal paraprofessionals practicing in association with a qualified provider of legal services in Montana as defined in Article I, Section 3(g)(5), of the State Bar of Montana Bylaws. Repetition of such teaching activity does not qualify for credit; STATE LAW LIBRARY OF MONTANA Joseph P. Mazurek Justice Building 215 North Sanders Street PO Box 203004 Helena, MT 59620-3004 Website: courts.mt.gov/library Email: [email protected] Phone: 406-444-3660 Fax: 406-444-3603 f. Attending in-house activities offered by law firms, corporate legal departments, or similar entities primarily for the education of their employees or members. The standards set forth in Rule 8B are applicable to the approval of individual in-house activities. In addition, the following standards must be met: i. An application for approval must be filed with the Commission before the date on which the activity is to be held. The applicant shall furnish curriculum materials and a schedule and to provide assurances that client-related matters and case studies are not part of the credit hours being sought; attend the activity; ii. Five or more lawyers, including the instructor, must so as to be free of interruption from telephone calls and other office matters; iii. The activity must be scheduled at a time and location iv. The applicant must agree to permit any member of the Commission, or a designee of the Commission, including the MCLE Administrator, to attend the activity if the Commission deems it necessary. g. Satisfactorily completing an approved self-study program; or h. Utilizing any other method if the applicant can demonstrate the activity has significant legal content and the primary objective of the activity is uniquely connected to the practice of law. STATE LAW LIBRARY OF MONTANA Joseph P. Mazurek Justice Building 215 North Sanders Street PO Box 203004 Helena, MT 59620-3004 Website: courts.mt.gov/library Email: [email protected] Phone: 406-444-3660 Fax: 406-444-3603 B. The following will not be considered for credit: 1. Bar Review Courses. Credit shall not be earned for any bar review course offered in any state or for any other activity attended before admission to practice law in any state. 2. Teaching at Educational Institutions. Teaching in scheduled activities of any educational institution by a member who has an employment relationship with the institution, either as an employee or as a contractor, or by a member who is a guest speaker on a regular basis is not an approved CLE activity under this Rule.