Requirements and Resources for Newly-Admitted Attorneys

In addition to mandatory continuing legal education (MCLE) requirements that all attorneys are subject to, all newly-admitted attorneys (regardless of type of admission or licensing status) must complete 15 hours of specially-approved continuing legal education courses on Vermont practice and procedure.  A minimum of 9 of those 15 CLE hours must be earned by attendance at programs delivered either as Moderated Programming or Non-Moderated Programming with Interactivity as a Key Component, as those terms are defined in the Vermont Rules for Mandatory Continuing Legal Education.  The 15 hours must be completed no earlier than 1 year before, and no later than 1 year after, admission to the bar.  Note that courses taken to satisfy the first-year CLE requirement will count toward the MCLE requirement during your first reporting period.  For more information on MCLE requirements, visit the Mandatory Continuing Legal Education page.

The Vermont Bar Association (VBA) has been authorized to provide courses specially approved to satisfy the first-year CLE requirement. The VBA’s list of approved live and prerecorded courses can be found here.

The Vermont Association for Justice also offers CLE series on specific subject areas (evidence, civil procedure, etc.) that have been approved for use towards the first-year CLE requirement.

Certification of Completion of First-Year CLE Requirement

You must certify completion of the first-year CLE requirement within one year of your date of admission (unless you obtain an extension of time from the Office of Attorney Licensing).  Failure to do so will result in administrative suspension of your license to practice law.

To certify completion, you should complete the form below and submit it through eFiling.  Instructions on how to use eFiling can be found here: Attorney Licensing eFiling Guide.

Remember when eFiling to choose the specific filing code for the specific certification that you are filing.

If you are admitted by examination or by transferred UBE score, you must also complete a mentorship with a judge or attorney who practices in Vermont and has been admitted to the Vermont bar for at least three years.  The mentorship must last at least six months and must be completed within the first year after admission.  (For applicants for admission by examination, the mentorship can commence no earlier than the date applicants receive notice of having passed the bar exam. For applicants for admission by transferred UBE score, the mentorship can commence no earlier than the date applicants receive notice that they are eligible for admission.)  As part of the mentorship, you must meet regularly with your supervising judge or attorney no less than 10 times to discuss your practice and issues relevant to Vermont practice and procedure.  You must also engage in at least 40 hours of activities on the Mentorship Program Checklist.

Are you looking for a mentor? 

You can contact the Attorney Licensing Office (Attylicensing@vtcourts.gov) for a list of practicing attorneys who have expressed interest in being a mentor.  Also, you can reach out to the Vermont Bar Association, which has a mentoring program that connects new attorneys with mentors.

Are you a current mentor--or interested in being a mentor--but need more information? 

The following document provides information on the mentorship for current and prospective mentors. 

Note that an attorney may earn up to five MCLE credit hours per reporting period (no credit for preparation) for service as a mentor for a newly-admitted attorney.

Are you looking for opportunities for activities that can count towards your mentorship hours?

Try contacting Legal Services Vermont or check out the Serving the Community page on the Vermont Bar Association's website.

Certification of Completion of First-Year Mentorship Requirement

You must certify completion of the first-year mentorship requirement within one year of your date of admission (unless you obtain an extension of time from the Office of Attorney Licensing).  Failure to do so will result in administrative suspension of your license to practice law.

To certify completion, you should complete the forms below and submit them through eFiling.  Instructions on how to use eFiling can be found here: Attorney Licensing eFiling Guide.

Remember when eFiling to choose the specific filing code for the specific certification that you are filing.

The Vermont Bar Association provides a wealth of resources for both new and experienced attorneys.  Here are some of the VBA's offerings particularly relevant to newly-licensed attorneys:

• Top Tips for New Admittees.
• The Vermont Lawyer Incubator Program assists new and new-to-Vermont lawyers transition into solo practice while helping underserved Vermonters.
• The Loan Repayment Assistance Program provides loan assistance for licensed attorney members of the Vermont Bar Association. 
• The Vermont Mentor Advice Program pairs new attorneys in Vermont with experienced practitioners in Vermont to provide guidance regarding practical, ethical and professional issues.