On July 1 Minnesota joined the ranks of over 45 states and territories that grant CLE credit for video courses that attorneys access on-demand, as their schedules permit, and wherever they can access the Internet.
The change took effect due to amendments to the Rules of the Minnesota State Board of Continuing Legal Education that were approved by the Minnesota Supreme Court in December 2013. The amendments provide that attorneys can earn up to 15 CLE credits of the 45 credits required in each reporting period by participating in approved, on-demand courses after July 1, 2014.
Responding to this new opportunity, MSBA, in collaboration with its substantive law sections, is developing and producing on-demand courses, and hopes to produce 48 courses in each of the next two years. Each on-demand course lasts from an hour to an hour and a half, earning the attorney 1.0 to 1.5 CLE credits for a modest cost of $24.95 for MSBA members, $49.95 for nonmembers, payable online via credit card.
Nine courses are now available via the MSBA website, including, for example:
Walsh v. U.S. Bank and the Minnesota Pleading Standard; Updates in Deceptive Food and Beverage Claims: the effect of
Pom Wonderful v. Coca-Cola; Understanding the New Women's Economic Security Act; and Understanding the new Minnesota Public Benefit Corporation Act.
Each course is approved by the CLE Board for a period of two years and five additional courses are currently in development by MSBA. Courses are initially offered by the sections as "in-person" programs and videotaped. Attorneys watching the video on-demand at a later date receive course materials electronically via download from the course website.
For further information and a list of current course offerings go to
On Demand CLE.