Significant changes to the continuing legal education framework in Georgia will take effect on January 1, 2026. Under a recent order issued by the Supreme Court of Georgia, the State Bar will shift from an annual system to a biennial compliance period, introduce updated credit-hour obligations, and revise several longstanding components of the CLE process. These changes represent the most substantial restructuring of Georgia’s CLE rules in decades and are intended to modernize the program, align it with comparable jurisdictions, and reflect recommendations arising from systemic review efforts.
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New Biennial CLE Structure
Beginning with the first compliance period, January 1, 2026, through December 31, 2027, all active, non-exempt Georgia lawyers will be required to complete 18 CLE hours every two years. This total must include 3 ethics hours and 2 professionalism hours. Trial-practice hours will no longer be mandatory, eliminating the former requirement applicable to trial lawyers.
CLE compliance will shift to a calendar-based biennium, with all reporting deadlines falling on December 31 of odd-numbered years. Lawyers will then have a 45-day window to cure any deficiencies. After February 15, a late fee of $200 will apply. If remaining deficiencies are not resolved by May 1, the Bar will forward names for potential CLE suspension to the Supreme Court of Georgia.
Certification Requirement
A notable addition to the new CLE accreditation framework is the requirement that each lawyer certify the relevance of their completed hours. At the end of each biennium, lawyers must attest, through their online CLE transcript, that the courses taken were in their area of practice or in subjects reasonably expected to benefit their work and clients. While this requirement does not change the approval process for CLE providers, it formalizes the expectation that CLE activities support professional competence.
Exemptions and Carryover Hours
The updated rules retain several familiar exemptions, including those for inactive members, judges who are restricted from the practice of law, certain elected officials, members of the Board of Bar Examiners, lawyers on active military duty, and those practicing exclusively outside Georgia. A new exemption applies to any active lawyer who has reached 40 years of continuous active Bar membership without disciplinary suspension or disbarment. This exemption begins in the compliance period immediately after the lawyer becomes eligible.
Lawyers may carry forward up to 18 hours, including up to 3 ethics and 2 professionalism hours, from one biennium to the next. This allows flexibility for those who regularly exceed minimum CLE requirements.
Transition Period: 2025 Requirements
Before the new rules take effect, all active lawyers must satisfy the existing 2025 CLE requirement: 12 hours total, including 1 ethics hour, 1 professionalism hour, and 3 trial hours for trial lawyers. The deadline to complete the 2025 requirement is March 31, 2026. Only after this requirement is met will the new biennial CLE rules apply. Up to 12 hours (including 2 ethics and 2 professionalism) from 2025 may be carried into the first biennium.
Implications for CLE Providers
From an accreditation standpoint, the new structure preserves most existing approval procedures. Providers may continue offering accredited content online or in person, and online courses remain fully eligible for CLE credit. The elimination of trial-specific hours may shift demand toward more general professional-responsibility, practice-development, and subject-matter programming, but the basic submission and reporting requirements for CLE accreditation remain stable.
Providers may also see increased interest in courses that support the certification requirement, particularly practice-focused programs aimed at enhancing competence in substantive areas of law. As with any regulatory change, clarity in course descriptions, accurate coding, and timely submission of attendance records will remain central to compliance.
Conclusion
Georgia’s revised CLE requirements introduce a more flexible biennial structure, updated credit-hour obligations, and a new certification component, all designed to streamline compliance and reinforce professional development. As the implementation date approaches, familiarity with the new rules will be essential for lawyers and CLE providers alike. The State Bar’s CLE Department has indicated that additional guidance and FAQs will continue to be published as needed.