Rule 1.3.14 Confidentiality

Subject to the direction of the Supreme Court, the files, records, and proceedings of the MCLE Commission, as they may relate to or arise out of the failure of an attorney to satisfy these continuing legal education requirements, shall be confidential. When the Director issues a notice of delinquency that an Active Practitioner is not in compliance with the filing or educational requirements set forth in these rules, the MCLE record of that attorney shall be open to public inspection during the time that the attorney is noncompliant. Notwithstanding the foregoing, MCLE Commission work product and attorney requests for waivers shall not be subject to public inspection. The MCLE Commission may, in anonymous fashion, abstract statistical studies for use by the Commission.

Mailing Address of Commission.

Subject to change by order(s) of the MCLE Commission from time to time, the official address of the Commission is:

Rhode Island MCLE Commission Rhode Island Supreme Court 24 Weybosset Street Providence, RI 02903

(401) 222-4942

Appendix A Accreditation Guidelines for Continuing Legal Education Activities Pursuant to the authority granted to the Mandatory Continuing Legal Education (MCLE) Commission to administer Article IV, Rule 3 of the Supreme Court Rules, the following accreditation criteria are hereby adopted as Appendix A to be used to determine if continuing legal education activities submitted for MCLE accreditation satisfy the general Standards specified in Article IV, Rule 3.7 and MCLE Regulation § 1.3.7. Continuing legal education activities shall be accredited for MCLE in Rhode Island if they meet the following accreditation criteria:

(a) The activity consists of an organized program of education dealing with:

(1) Substantive or procedural subjects of law;

(2) Technical, scientific, or other bodies of knowledge that are so inextricably intertwined with an area of law practice as to be tantamount to a subject of law;

(3) Legal skills and techniques;

(4) Legal ethics and/or professional responsibility;

(5) Diversity, equity, and inclusion relating to the practice of law; or

(6) Law office management.

(b) The instructors or lecturers are either qualified attorneys or judges, or they are experts in the subject area based on their education and background;

(c) The activity is primarily designed and targeted to attorneys and other professionals who would require the same level of instruction as attorneys in the area of study that is the subject of the activity;

(d) The activity is not a meeting of a bar association, committee, section, or other entity composed of attorneys that is designed to be a general business or work session as opposed to a continuing legal education activity;

(e) The activity is not training in the actual use of specific hardware, software, or other tools that are specific products of a particular company or person, unless such training is merely a method of explaining the overall concept being taught; and

(f) High quality written materials should be distributed to all participants at or before the time the activity is offered. “Diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI)” shall include programs that recognize the diversity of society and teach attorneys to effectively serve and have regard for this multi-lingual, multi-cultural, multi-racial, multi-religious, and multi-gender society while focusing on equity by highlighting equal opportunity and outcomes for all and achieving equal justice under the law, regardless of being a protected class or status.

“Diversity” refers to the variety of personal experiences, values, and worldviews that arise from differences of culture and circumstance. Such differences include, but are not limited to, race, ethnicity, gender, age, religion, language, abilities/disabilities, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status, and geographic region. “Equity” is the guarantee of fair treatment, access, opportunity, and advancement for all, while at the same time striving to identify and eliminate barriers that have prevented the full participation of marginalized groups. “Inclusion” is the act of creating environments in which any individual or group can feel welcomed, respected, supported, and valued. Examples of such programs shall include, but are not limited to, those that address one or more of the following: the challenges faced by groups underrepresented in or by the legal profession, eliminating bias, access to justice, increasing representation, reducing harassment, and barriers to hiring, retention, promotion, professional development, and full participation of underrepresented groups in the legal profession; give practical advice to participants that they can utilize and employ when improving DEI in their professional circles as well as the legal profession as a whole; and have speakers with personal and/or professional experience with DEI and offer unique insight into the challenges facing the legal profession and the justice system. “Legal ethics” shall include programs that deal with usages and customs among members of the legal profession, involving their moral and professional duties toward one another, toward clients, and toward the courts. “Professional responsibility” shall include programs that deal with maintaining the integrity and competence of the Bar so that legal services are delivered with the highest degree of professional conduct. Examples of such programs shall include, but are not limited to, those involving disciplinary rules, rules of professional conduct, malpractice avoidance, substance abuse and stress as an impairment on law practice, alternate dispute resolution, pro bono legal services, and the participation of women and minorities in the legal profession. “Law office management” shall include programs on topics that relate strictly to law offices and legal departments, and to the development and training of lawyers in the actual practice of law, as opposed to other businesses or professions, and in assisting them in providing high quality legal services to their clients. Examples of such programs shall include, but are not limited to, those involving:

(1) administrative and organizational structure and planning for law firms; (2) case management and docket control; (3) accounting systems and time and billing systems for lawyers; (4) client filing and monitoring systems; (5) computerization, automation and data processing for law firms; and (6) personnel management.

“Law office management” shall NOT include programs involving: (1) individual money management or investing; (2) personal development; (3) techniques designed and marketed solely to increase profits of a lawyer or firm; (4) general time management and personal organizational skills; and (5) individual communication and interpersonal skills such as interview skills.

Appendix B Teaching Qualifications

Teaching an Approved Program or Activity to persons pursuing a degree other than a J.D., L.L.B., L.L.M., or S.J.D degree for a semester (fifteen (15) weeks) or a trimester (ten (10) weeks) will qualify for teaching credit at a rate of six (6) teaching credits per MCLE Reporting Year.

Teaching an Approved Program or Activity to persons pursuing a J.D., L.L.B., L.L.M., or S.J.D degree for a semester (fifteen (15) weeks) or a trimester (ten (10) weeks) will qualify for teaching credit at a rate of six (6) teaching credits per MCLE Reporting Year.

A single instructor of an Approved Program or Activity teaching for less than a semester (fifteen (15) weeks) or trimester (ten (10) weeks) will qualify for teaching credits by multiplying the total number of minutes of instruction by three (3) and dividing this total by fifty (50) minutes for the MCLE Credit Hour.

Multiple instructors (more than one (1) instructor presenting during the course or session), moderators of a panel, and/or panel participants on a teaching panel will qualify for teaching credit by multiplying the total number of minutes of instruction by two (2) and dividing this total by fifty (50) minutes for the MCLE Credit Hour.

An attorney shall not receive participation, legal ethics, or DEI credits in addition to teaching credits. If an attorney has reached six (6) teaching credits for the MCLE Reporting Year and the attorney teaches additional courses or sessions, the attorney shall not receive participation credit.

Teaching an Approved Program or Activity under the following circumstances does not qualify for teaching credit:

1. Actual instruction time was less than twenty-five (25) minutes; or 2. Materials were not distributed.

Appendix C Schedule of Fees The following fee schedule is adopted by the Mandatory Continuing Legal Education Commission to be effective July 1, 2025:

MCLE Regulation Section Number Amount § 1.3.3(f) Rhode Island Bridge the Gap Late Filing Fee $ 50.00 § 1.3.3(f) Rhode Island Bridge the Gap Makeup Filing Fee $ 100.00 § 1.3.5(f) Accredited Sponsor Annual Fee $ 250.00 § 1.3.5(f) Accredited Sponsor Limited Annual Fee One (1) Credit per MCLE Reporting Year $ 75.00 Two (2) Credits per MCLE Reporting Year $ 100.00 In-house $ 100.00 § 1.3.5(f) Application Fee per Course $ 45.00 1 § 1.3.8(d) Late Filing of Compliance, Waiver, or Exemption Late Filing Fee if filed: July 15 to September 30 (Tier I) $ 50.00 October 1 to December 31 (Tier II) $ 100.00 January 1 to June 30 (Tier III) $ 150.00 § 1.3.8(e) Accredited Sponsor Prior Course Approval Late Fee $ 75.00 § 1.3.8(e) Accredited Sponsor Late Attendance Fee $ 30.00 § 1.3.8(e) Accredited Sponsor Approval After Course Date Late Fee $ 100.00 § 1.3.9(a) Makeup Filing Fee (Tier I) $ 100.00

1 Sponsor submission of courses/programs for approval by the MCLE Commission should adhere to the following procedures depending upon the mode of instruction. If a course is offered as In-person and/or Webcast/Webinar AND as a Video Replay, the sponsor shall submit two (2) course applications as indicated below: 1. In-person and/or Webcast/Webinar (any number of credits) – Completion of Appendix D and payment of a $45.00 course application fee; and 2. Video Replay (a minimum of .50 credits and a maximum of six (6) credits) - Completion of Appendix D, course title must be followed by wording of “- Video Replay,” and payment of a $45.00 course application fee. § 1.3.9(b) Makeup Filing Fee (Tier II) $ 200.00 § 1.3.9(c) Reinstatement Fee for a Period Less Than Six (6) $ 75.00 Months

Reinstatement Fees for a Period in Excess of Amount Six (6) Months Pursuant to Article IV, Rule 1(e)

Less Than Three (3) Years $ 375.00 Greater Than Three (3) Years $ 525.00

Appendix D Course Accreditation 1. Sponsor Details Sponsor name Contact person title Business address Business telephone

2. Methods of Presentation In-person Teleseminar Video Replay Webcast/Webinar

3. Advertised Lawyers Other – Specify

4. Educational Activity Course title Location Date

5. In-house Activity

6. Method of Evaluation Participant critique Other Independent evaluator None

7. Description of Materials to be Distributed Total pages Unbound copies Electronic File CD/DVD/Flash Drive Bound/Book

8. When are Materials Distributed? Before program Other At program

9. Required Attachments to the Application Certificate of Attendance/Agenda/time schedule (brochure, course outline, course description Faculty name(s) and credentials (if not in brochure or description)

10. Total Minutes of Instruction, not Including Breaks, Meals, or Introductions General Legal Ethics Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Total

Appendix E Authorship Credit 1. Title of article, chapter, monograph, or book 2. Publisher 3. Volume and Number 4. Date of publication 5. Type of publication 6. Subject matter 7. Number of hours spent directly in preparation 8. Submit a copy of the publication 9. Active Practitioner address

Appendix F Teaching Accreditation 1. Sponsor Details Year Address Sponsor Name Telephone

2. Instructor Classification Served as instructor – Single instructor – One (1) session only (maximum of six (6) teaching credits per MCLE Reporting Year)

Served as instructor – Panel member – More than one (1) instructor during session (maximum of six (6) teaching credits per MCLE Reporting Year)

Served as instructor – Moderator of panel (maximum of six (6) teaching credits per MCLE Reporting Year)

Served as instructor – Semester/trimester course teaching to non-attorneys, non- legal degree seeking students (awarded maximum of six teaching (6) credits per MCLE Reporting Year)

Served as instructor – Semester/trimester course teaching to attorneys or legal degree seeking students (awarded maximum of six (6) teaching credits per MCLE Reporting Year plus four (4) general credits for a total of ten (10) credits)

3. Educational Activity Course title Location Date

4. Description of Materials to be Distributed Total pages Unbound copies Electronic File CD/DVD/Flash drive Bound/Book

5. When are Materials Distributed? Before program Other At program

6. Required Attachments to the Application Syllabus/Timed agenda/Course description Instructor credentials /Curriculum vitae

7. Total Minutes of Instruction Teaching credits General credits Total

Appendix G Summary Reporting Form MCLE Reporting Year Ends June 30

The paper Appendix G form has been replaced by electronic filing via the MCLE Portal located at www.courts.ri.gov. The electronic Appendix G must be completed annually no later than June 30 certifying accrual of a minimum of ten (10) MCLE Credit Hours inclusive of a minimum of two (2) legal ethics MCLE Credit Hours and one (1) MCLE Credit Hour in the area of diversity, equity, and inclusion. Failure to comply with Article IV, Rule 3 of the Rhode Island Supreme Court Rules and the MCLE Regulations may result in the imposition of sanctions including, but not limited to, late fees or removal from the Master Roll of Attorneys.

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*Note: Video Replay courses are limited to six (6) MCLE Credit Hours per year. Webcast/Webinar and Teleseminar course credits are unlimited.

Teaching credits are limited to six (6) MCLE Credit Hours per year.

In-house credits are limited to five (5) MCLE Credit Hours per year.

Authorship credits are limited to five (5) MCLE Credit Hours per year.

Book Discussion Group credits are limited to one and one-half (1.5) MCLE Credit Hours per year.

Criminal Court Appointment Panel credits are limited to one (1) MCLE Credit Hour per case with a maximum of five (5) MCLE Credit Hours per year.

Judge, facilitator, or trainer in a moot or mock trial competition or seminar is limited to one (1) MCLE Credit Hour per year.