IAND/IASD Continuing Legal Education (CLE)
The following links will allow you to download documents relevant to federal CLE requirements in the Northern and Southern Districts of Iowa. For more information, please see the informational links below.
CLE Biennial Instructions 2017
Attorney Application for Federal CLE Approval
Sponsor Application for Federal CLE Approval
Continuing Legal Education FAQs
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What are the CLE filing requirements?
All attorneys are required to complete six hours of approved legal education in the area of federal practice every two years. A maximum of three credit hours may be carried over from the previous reporting period. There is no requirement for the hours to include education devoted exclusively to ethics and no limit on the number of hours completed online. All attorneys are required to file a Biennial Report of Continuing Legal Education every other year. The report must be filed by March 1st.
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If an attorney is admitted in both the Northern and Southern District of Iowa, do they need to file a report in each jurisdiction?
No. An attorney admitted in both the Northern and Southern District of Iowa is only required to file one Biennial Report and submit one payment every other year. All Federal Iowa CLE reports, regardless of the district, are filed in the Southern District of Iowa’s CM/ECF.
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What happens if an attorney fails to complete the required CLE hours or fails to file the report as required?
Any attorney who fails to complete the required number of approved hours, file the Biennial Report, and pay the required fee will be suspended from federal practice in the Northern and Southern Districts of Iowa.
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Is there an option for an attorney to be classified as inactive?
Yes. If an attorney does not want to remain active, they can go to inactive status. If an inactive attorney wishes to become active again, they must file a Biennial Report of Continuing Education showing 6 hours of federally approved CLE in the last two years and pay a $50 fee. Readmission is not necessary. While inactive, the attorney cannot practice in the federal court.
To change status from active to inactive, call the Attorney Admissions line at 515-323-2842.
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Can an attorney request an extension to complete the CLE hours or file the Biennial Report?
No. The Court does not grant extensions to complete the CLE hours or file the report. The report must be filed no later than March 1st.
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What happens if an attorney forgets their CM/ECF password or user name?
If any attorney forgets their password, it can be reset by completing the steps at this link: https://ecf.iasd.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/lostPassword.pl. If the attorney cannot remember their user name, or are uncertain if their primary email address is correct, they should contact the Clerk’s Office Attorney Admissions line by calling 515-323-2842.
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How long does it take to approve CLE hours submitted for approval?
Applications for Federal CLE Approval are usually processed in one month or less. Once your request for approval has been processed, you will receive an email. Any questions related to your request for approval can be sent to cle_approval@iasd.uscourts.gov.
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Who do I contact if I have additional questions or need additional assistance?
You should contact the Attorney Admissions Specialist at 515-323-2842 or iasd_attorneyreg@iasd.uscourts.gov.