Imagine: a New Future for Pro Bono

and CLE

Alli Gerkman

I think CLE matters

Redefining CLE

When Classes (and Credits) Aren’t Enough

The Future of Online CLE Is Free

Update: The Future of Online CLE Is Still Free

Where Have All the Young Lawyers Gone?

No, really. Marketing how-to isn’t continuing legal education.

But many lawyers don’t

I wanted to be required to take 45 units of general CLE and 7 units of ethics CLE every three years.

In 2010, the Colorado Lawyer asked “Why did you become a lawyer?”

CLE has lost its meaning

Where Did It Go?

How much time do we have?

What is the [actual] purpose of CLE?

As society becomes more complex, the delivery of legal services likewise becomes more complex. The public rightly expects that practicing attorneys, in their practice of law, and judges, in the performance of their duties, will continue their legal and judicial education throughout the period of their service to society. It is the purpose of these rules to make mandatory a minimum amount of continuing legal education for practicing attorneys and judges in order to foster and promote competence and professionalism in the practice of law and the administration of justice.

Why is she talking about CLE?

Don’t worry. It’s only 5 minutes.

Rule 260.8

One credit/5 hours of representation

One credit/completed matter for mentoring lawyers

One credit/completed matter for mentoring law students

Lawyers can earn up to 9 credits in each three-year compliance period for pro bono work!

Pro Bono (without mentoring)

But what about the lawyer with a lot of experience?

And what about the lawyer with none?

Flickr: ilhu industries

Flickr: WarmSleepy

Is the purpose of CLE served?

Courtesy of Frankzed on Flickr

Is society served?

Wikimedia commons: ChvhLR10

Redefining CLE and Pro Bono

Learning by Teaching

Docendo discimusLucius Annaeus Seneca (ca. 4 BC – 65 AD)

Learning by Doing

Courtesy of Geoff LMV on Flickr

Did you know we have a mentoring crisis?

This presentation isn’t about mentoring, but…

Classroom Component

Courtesy of jisc_infonet on Flickr

Field Component

Flickr: limonada

Flickr: mytudut

Flickr: martinc

Flickr: mike t ormsby

Support and Stability

Get what you paid for

Structure

Quality

Measure Outcomes

And, yes. CLE credit.

Lawyers and society are served by the same

plan

And don’t forget CLE

Because it’s really more than just a mandatory minimum requirement.

It’s the future of our profession.