The Supreme Court earlier announced adoption of a requirement that New Jersey attorneys complete one Continuing Legal Education (CLE) credit per two-year CLE reporting cycle in “technology-related subjects.” That requirement is formalized in the Court’s attached March 26, 2026 Order amending Court Rule 1:42-1. The Court in its order, in addition to promulgating that Rule amendment, also approves (in accordance with Rule 1:42-2(b)(4)) (1) a similar amendment to CLE Regulation 201:1, as well as (2) an amendment to CLE Regulation 103:1 to define “technology-related.”
The new requirement for attorneys to complete one credit per two-year reporting cycle in technology-related subjects is effective January 1, 2027. This requirement applies to those attorneys in the next CLE reporting cycle that ends on December 31, 2027 (for reporting in early 2028), and to attorneys in all subsequent two-year reporting cycles. Attorneys in the current two-year CLE reporting cycle that ends December 31, 2026 (for reporting in early 2027) thus are not required to report compliance with the revised requirements for this current cycle.
Informed by public comments, the definition of “technology-related subjects” approved by the Court as set out below aligns substantively with the comparable regulation governing CLE requirements for attorneys licensed in New York.
“technology-related subjects” include, but are not limited to, developments in artificial intelligence (AI), including generative AI, and other emerging technologies affecting legal practice. This encompasses the practical use and responsible operation of legal technologies and software; gathering, authenticating, and handling electronic evidence; cybersecurity, privacy, data protection, and ensuring client confidentiality in digital environments; data breach prevention and response; electronic legal research, discovery, brief-writing, and preparation of court and client materials; and the formulation and implementation of relevant internal policies and practices, including oversight of outside vendors
Additionally, the amendment to CLE Regulation 103:1 to add a definition of “technology-related subjects” as subparagraph (t) required that the existing definitions of “undue hardship” and “year” in CLE Regulation 103:1 be renumbered from subparagraphs (t) and (u) to now be subparagraphs (u) and (v).
Please contact Wendy L. Weiss, Counsel to the Board on Continuing Legal Education, or Board staff, with any questions about these amendments at Sctcle.Mailbox@njcourts.gov.
It is ORDERED that the attached amendments to Rule 1:42-1 of the Rules Governing the Courts of the State of New Jersey and to Continuing Legal Education (CLE) Regulations 103:1 and 201:1, adding technology-related subjects as a requirement, are adopted to be effective immediately, with reporting on compliance with this new requirement to begin with the two-year CLE reporting cycle that concludes December 31, 2027.
1:42-1. Continuing Legal Education Required.
An attorney holding a license to practice in this State shall be required to participate in a program of continuing legal education in accordance with regulations adopted under these rules. In satisfaction of the continuing legal education requirement, attorneys shall participate in twenty-four hours of qualifying continuing legal education over a two-year period. [Four] Five of the twenty-four hours of credit shall be concentrated in the areas of ethics and/or professionalism. At least two of the five hours of credit in ethics and/or professionalism shall be in diversity, inclusion, and elimination of bias. At least one of the twenty-four hours of credit shall be in technology-related subjects. Attorneys shall demonstrate that they have satisfied the continuing legal education requirement by certifying to their compliance at the end of the two-year period in a manner prescribed by the Board on Continuing Legal Education. In addition, attorneys shall maintain all necessary records and documentation to demonstrate such compliance in accordance with regulations adopted under these Rules.
Note: Adopted December 18, 2009 to be effective immediately; amended October 20, 2020 to be effective January 1, 2021; amended March 31, 2026 regarding technology-related subjects to be effective immediately, with reporting by attorneys on their compliance with this additional requirement to begin with the two-year CLE reporting cycle that concludes December 31, 2027.
Regulation 103:1. Definitions.
(a) – (s) … no change
(t) “technology-related subjects” include, but are not limited to, developments in artificial intelligence (AI), including generative AI, and other emerging technologies affecting legal practice. This encompasses the practical use and responsible operation of legal technologies and software; gathering, authenticating, and handling electronic evidence; cybersecurity, privacy, data protection, and ensuring client confidentiality in digital environments; data breach prevention and response; electronic legal research, discovery, brief-writing, and preparation of court and client materials; and the formulation and implementation of relevant internal policies and practices, including oversight of outside vendors;
(u) [(t)] “undue hardship” shall mean a severe medical condition, natural disaster, family emergency, financial hardship or other compelling good cause reason which in the judgment of the Board renders a lawyer incapable of complying with these regulations;
(v) [(u)] “year shall mean a calendar year.
Regulation 201:1. Mandatory requirements. Every active lawyer shall complete twenty-four credit hours of continuing legal education every two years. Of those twenty-four credits, not less than five credits must be in ethics and/or professionalism. At least two of the five hours of credit in ethics and/or professionalism shall be in diversity, inclusion, and elimination of bias. At least one of the twenty-four hours of credit must be in technology-related subjects.
[Source note for the set of CLE Regulations]
Note: These regulations were approved by the Board on Continuing Legal Education on January 15, 2010, and by the Supreme Court of New Jersey on January 26, 2010; amendments to Regulations 103:1(a), 201:2, 201:6, 201:8, 202:1, and 401:4 were approved by the Board on March 28, 2011 and by the Supreme Court on July 21, 2011 to be effective immediately; amendments to Regulations 103:1(j) and (l), 201:4, 201:6, 201:8, 202:2, 202:3, 302:4, 302:10, 402:1, 402:2, and 402:3 were approved by the Board on September 28, 2012 and by the Supreme Court on October 23, 2012 to be effective November 9, 2012, and with the amendment to Regulation 201:8 to be applied retroactively; amendments to Regulation 103:1(k) and 201:1 were approved by the Supreme Court on October 20, 2020 to be effective January 1, 2021; new Regulation 103:1(t) added (“technology-related subjects”), Regulations 103:1(t) (“undue hardship”) and 103:1(u) renumbered as Regulations 103:1(u) and 103:1(v), amendments to Regulation 201:1 approved by the Supreme Court on March 31, 2026 to be effective immediately, with reporting on compliance with this new requirement to begin with the two-year CLE reporting cycle that concludes December 31, 2027.
Document Date: March 31, 2026
Publish Date: April 1, 2026