We recently received an email from State Bar President Chris Twyman on the new CLE requirements for 2026. It reads as follows:

Dear Bar Members,

I am reaching out to share news of important changes to the continuing legal education requirements for members of the State Bar of Georgia, which will be effective with a new compliance period beginning Jan. 1, 2026.

Highlights of the most substantial changes are below:

• Biennial CLE requirement (every 2 years) instead of an annual CLE requirement
• First biennial compliance period (Jan. 1, 2026, to Dec. 31, 2027)
• CLE requirement for the biennial compliance period:
  • 18 CLE hours (including 3 ethics hours and 2 professionalism hours)
  • Eliminated the trial hours requirement for trial lawyers
  • Added a certification requirement when hours are completed for the compliance period. (Lawyers will attest on their online CLE transcript that the CLE hours attended were hours in the lawyer’s area of practice or in an area that will benefit their practice and clients.)
• CLE exemption for any active member having reached 40 years as an active member of the State Bar of Georgia without having been suspended or disbarred for violating the Georgia Rules of Professional Conduct. The exemption begins in the compliance period immediately following the lawyer’s eligibility.

Note: Active lawyers must complete their 2025 CLE requirement (12 CLE hours, including 1 ethics hour and 1 professionalism hour) with a deadline of March 31, 2026. After completion of the 2025 CLE hours requirement, the new CLE rules will be in effect for active lawyers.

We recognize that this represents a significant change to the current CLE requirement process, and we are here to provide as much information as possible ahead of the implementation date to ensure that you are prepared for the new procedures. To that end, we invite you to visit our informational webpage here that includes an explanation of the changes, a link to the Supreme Court order that includes the new rules and a list of frequently asked questions that will be updated as warranted. Questions are expected and encouraged, and we invite you to reach out to cle@gabar.org for clarification and information that may be more specific to your individual situation.

Our goal is to provide information in a manner that is easily accessible and understandable, ensuring that all members are well-prepared for the shift in process and procedure. I look forward to navigating this updated process with you.

Sincerely,

Christopher P. Twyman
President, State Bar of Georgia
president@gabar.org