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Minnesota attorneys who are winding up their three-year compliance cycle need to finish their 45 total CLE hours by 30 June 2019. Of the 45 total hours, 15 may be earned online. The credits should include at least three hours of legal ethics or professional responsibility, and two hours of elimination of bias. Reporting is due 31 August 2019.

Note: Minnesota CLE credit hours may not carry over from one three-year cycle to the next.

The Struggle to Eliminate Bias

Minnesota is one of a growing number of states requiring CLE credit hours in diversity and the elimination of bias in the legal sphere. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that the legal profession and law firms have long had, and still have, a striking lack of diversity. Other professions are, statistically, somewhat or far more diverse.

The population of lawyers is called to serve everyone, with an objective and unbiased mindset. Given the profession’s makeup, avoiding bias is a challenge for the overall U.S. population of lawyers.

Minnesota has set forth three main objectives for its elimination of bias initiatives:

Address prejudice among lawyers, in law firms, in courts and other offices charged with the administration of justice. Examine and take down the barriers to career success for lawyers who face discrimination on account of race, disability, class, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, or age. Study various issues of concern for anti-discrimination projects, including the Race Bias and Gender Fairness Task Force of the state Supreme Court.

More Information

The Knowledge Group provides continuing legal education webcasts to satisfy all of your CLE needs, including specialty credit. you can view our extensive library of live and recorded webcasts by clicking here.

Course providers monitor lawyers’ attendance as well as the completion of all course work. After finishing the courses, lawyers are responsible for reporting their own credits (by the end of August in this cycle) to Minnesota’s CLE Board.

If you need further information you may call 651.297.7100 to reach the Minnesota CLE Board, or visit the Board online.