What Are the CLE Requirements for New Mexico Attorneys?
New Mexico requires every active member of the State Bar of New Mexico to complete 12 CLE hours each year: 2 in ethics, 1 in equity-in-justice (EIJ) and 9 in general credits.
The year's hours and license renewal are due February 1.
Since January 1, 2024, all 12 credits may be earned as self-study, and unused credits can carry into the next year, capped at 2 ethics, 1 equity-in-justice and 9 general.
Miss the deadline and a $275 late penalty applies; members still non-compliant on May 1 are reported to the New Mexico Supreme Court for possible suspension.
Verify before you rely on this
At a glance
The State Bar of New Mexico, which administers the MCLE rules (Rules 18-101 et seq.
NMRA).
12 CLE hours per year: 2 ethics, 1 equity-in-justice (EIJ) and 9 general.
One year; the year's hours and license renewal are due February 1 for the prior year.
2 ethics credits, 1 equity-in-justice (EIJ) credit and 9 general credits.
All 12 credits may be self-study (on-demand/pre-recorded) credits since January 1, 2024.
Not established in our research — ask the State Bar of New Mexico.
A $275 late penalty with 90 more days to comply; members still non-compliant on May 1 are reported to the Supreme Court for possible suspension.
How many CLE hours does New Mexico require?
Every active State Bar of New Mexico member must complete 12 CLE hours each year.
The 12 hours split into 2 ethics credits, 1 equity-in-justice (EIJ) credit and 9 general credits.
The requirement sits under New Mexico's MCLE rules, Rules 18-101 et seq.
NMRA, which the State Bar of New Mexico administers.
“Every active State Bar of New Mexico member is required to complete 12 total hours of continuing legal education annually.”
What specialty credits does New Mexico require (ethics, bias, wellness, tech)?
New Mexico's annual 12 hours include two specialty categories: 2 ethics credits and 1 equity-in-justice (EIJ) credit, with the remaining 9 hours in general CLE.
The 12-hour breakdown our research confirmed names no separate bias, wellness or technology category.
Because credit categories can change, confirm the current credit types with the State Bar of New Mexico before you count a course toward ethics or EIJ.
When is the New Mexico CLE deadline and how do you report?
New Mexico CLE hours and license renewal are both due February 1 for the prior year.
A member who is non-compliant after that date has 90 more days to come into compliance, and a member still non-compliant on May 1 is reported to the New Mexico Supreme Court for possible suspension.
Our research did not confirm the exact form reporting takes, so check the State Bar of New Mexico's MCLE pages for the current reporting steps.
What are the rules for newly admitted New Mexico attorneys?
Our research could not verify New Mexico's CLE rules for newly admitted lawyers.
The State Bar of New Mexico's site lists a Bridge the Gap Mentorship Program (Rule 24-110) and a 'Required Trust Accounting Course', but the details — including whether first-year members owe the full 12 hours — were not confirmed in the pages we read.
Ask the State Bar of New Mexico what your first year requires.
Can you complete New Mexico CLE online or on demand?
Yes.
Since January 1, 2024, all 12 New Mexico CLE credits may be self-study credits — on-demand or pre-recorded courses — under Rule 18-204 NMRA.
No part of the annual requirement must be attended live under the rule we confirmed.
“Starting January 1, 2024, all credits may be self-study credits.”
Do New Mexico CLE credits carry over, and who is exempt?
New Mexico lets members roll unused credits into the next year by category: up to 2 ethics credits, 1 equity-in-justice credit and 9 general credits can carry over.
On exemptions, our research did not confirm any categories, so ask the State Bar of New Mexico whether an exemption applies to your situation.
“Up to 9 general credits can rollover into the next year.”
What happens if you miss the New Mexico CLE deadline?
Any aspect of non-compliance after the February 1 deadline incurs a $275 late penalty, and the member then has 90 more days to come into compliance.
A member who is still non-compliant on May 1 is reported to the New Mexico Supreme Court for possible suspension.
The penalty and the reporting step sit in the Supreme Court's order, NMSC Order No. 21-8300-30.
“Any aspect of non-compliance will incur a $275 late penalty.”
What This Page Does, and Doesn’t, Cover
This page summarizes the New Mexico court rules, board and bar pages and other sources listed below, as read for this state-by-state CLE requirements series, current as of October 2026.
It is not a substitute for the instructions the State Bar of New Mexico publishes.
For the rest of the picture in New Mexico, see bar admission rules in New Mexico.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who administers CLE for New Mexico attorneys?
The State Bar of New Mexico administers the state's minimum continuing legal education requirement under Rules 18-101 et seq.
NMRA.
Every active bar member owes the same 12 annual hours — 2 ethics, 1 equity-in-justice and 9 general.
The New Mexico Supreme Court also has a direct role: a member who is still non-compliant on May 1 is reported to the court for possible suspension.
What is the equity-in-justice (EIJ) credit in New Mexico?
It is one of the three credit categories in New Mexico's annual CLE requirement.
Alongside 2 ethics credits and 9 general credits, every active member of the State Bar of New Mexico must complete 1 equity-in-justice (EIJ) credit each year.
Our research confirmed the hour count but not which courses the bar counts toward EIJ, so check the bar's MCLE materials before you rely on a course.
Do New Mexico attorneys renew their license and report CLE at the same time?
Yes — New Mexico's CLE and license renewal share a due date: February 1, for the prior year.
If any aspect of the requirement is outstanding after that date, a $275 late penalty applies and the member has 90 more days to comply.
A member still non-compliant on May 1 is reported to the New Mexico Supreme Court for possible suspension.
More New Mexico Resources
Sources
- State Bar of New Mexico: MCLE rules, deadlines and resources (retrieved 2026-10-02)
- State Bar of New Mexico: MCLE licensing rule (retrieved 2026-10-02)
Sourced from the documents listed above.
Verified October 2026.
This is career information, not legal advice.
Confirm current rules with the State Bar of New Mexico.