CLE Opportunities in Response to COVID-19;
Limit of On-Demand MCLE Courses Lifted
The MCLE Commission has temporarily suspended MCLE Regulation 3.1, which limits attorneys to six (6) hours of on-demand credits in any single CLE year. This accommodation allows Alabama attorneys the flexibility of satisfying their annual CLE requirement (12 hours, including 1 ethics hour) with approved on-demand courses. This only applies to the current CLE year, and attorneys must satisfy their annual CLE requirement by December 31, 2020.
In an effort to further assist Alabama attorneys during these difficult times, the Alabama State Bar is excited to offer a free online CLE platform. This platform is available to all active members of the Alabama State Bar and will offer enough on-demand CLE courses for members to satisfy their annual CLE requirement by the December 31st deadline. The platform can be accessed at https://alabar.prolearn.io and step-by-step instructions for the platform are available here.
The first course available on the platform – Embracing Health & Wellness in the Legal Profession – is a course that was presented during Wellness Month by the Alabama State Bar Quality of Life, Heath & Wellness Task Force. This course is approved for 1.0 CLE credits, including 1.0 hours of ethics credit. Other courses will be added to the platform soon, so log in regularly or check The Scoop for announcements on new courses.
Note: CLE credit will not be awarded for a course completed online if credit has been awarded for completing the same course in a different format (live or video conference).
Economic Impact Study Underway
The Alabama State Bar has commissioned an economic impact study from the University of Alabama. In the coming weeks, you may receive an email questionnaire requesting information needed to complete the study. We encourage you to take part so that the results accurately show the tremendous impact the legal profession has on the state of Alabama. The survey will also collect information about pro bono hours donated by Alabama lawyers as well as the concerns and challenges for lawyers related to the COVID-19 pandemic. The individual and financial data collected by the University of Alabama will remain confidential and will not be shared with the bar. We will receive a summarized report that will not include firm information.
Annual License Fees and Membership Dues
Renewal notices for payment of annual license and special membership dues will be emailed in early September. The fee for an Occupational License is $325, and the dues for a Special Membership are $162.50. Payments are due by October 1; payments made after October 31 will be subject to the statutory late fee. As a reminder, you will not receive a paper invoice in the mail. Upon receipt of the renewal notice, online payments may be made at www.alabar.org or you can create and print a voucher to mail with your check. Log in to the website and select “Consolidated Fee Invoice” from your MyDashboard page to make an online payment or print a voucher. Instructions for the payment process and help with logging in are available online as needed.
Alabama State Bar Expands Race Categories in Member Data
The Board of Bar Commissioners voted to accept the recommendation of the ASB Diversity and Inclusion in the Profession Committee, to expand the race categories for ASB member records. As part of the Consolidated Fee Invoice (CFI), members will be able to review their current race category and make changes, if one of the expanded categories is more appropriate. This will allow us to maintain accurate member data, and promote diversity and inclusion among our members.
Join the Birmingham Bar Association and the Magic City Bar Association for a free 3-part virtual CLE series celebrating the Centennial of Women’s Suffrage.
August 25 at 12:00 p.m. - Women and Money: Financial Independence (Registration Info)
August 26 at 10:00 a.m. - Women and Voting: The Struggle for the Right to Vote (Registration Info)
August 31 at 12:00 p.m. - Women and Sports: Working to Achieve Parity with Men's Sports (Registration Info)
Appellate Court Decisions and Opinions
Click here to view the Alabama Supreme Court decisions and opinions from August 21
Click here to view the Criminal Appeals decisions and opinions from August 21
Click here to view the Civil Appeals decisions and opinions from August 21
Congratulations to Judge Marshell Hatcher
The Honorable Marshell Hatcher of the Tenth Judicial Circuit has been named as a liaison to the American Bar Association. She'll serve as the new ABA Judicial Division liaison to the ABA Racial and Ethnic Diversity in the Profession Committee. Congratulations!
Featured Member Benefit
Association Health Plan (AHP) now offered to ASB Members
You can sign up for our Association Health Plan (AHP) anytime! Members have the ability to choose between three health options, as well as two dental options and the vision plan. View the plans here.
Alabama State Bar
P.O Box 671
415 Dexter Ave.
Montgomery, AL 36111
(334) 269-1515
(800) 354-6154 Toll Free
The Alabama State Bar only sends email to its members on activities or events directly connected to the ASB, ASB's committees or sections, Alabama Supreme Court or Administrative Office of Courts. You can control the types of emails you receive from the ASB by logging onto www.alabar.org and changing your preferences.
