Effective Sept. 1, 2014, Massachusetts Bar Association
membership will include free, unlimited CLE seminars and MBA On
Demand programming for all educational programs, excluding
conferences and the Practicing with Professionalism course. Members
also receive free access to the entire recorded On Demand
library.
The MBA is the first and only statewide CLE provider in the
commonwealth to offer free CLE to its members. MBA members are
highly encouraged to take advantage of this exciting new benefit
upon joining for the 2014-2015 association year.
Access to top-notch continuing legal education has always been
one of the signature benefits of MBA membership, and that benefit
just got better. MBA members will have at their fingertips
limitless access to educational resources that will help keep them
on top of the law, advance their careers and enhance their
practices - all at no extra cost.
"We should be proud of ourselves in Massachusetts. Massachusetts
lawyers participate in CLE not because we are required to, but
because we want to be the best our profession has to offer," said
incoming MBA President Marsha V. Kazarosian. "The MBA is embracing
this commitment by offering our members unfettered, free access to
our CLE programs. This is just one of the many pledges the MBA
makes to support it members."
Each year, the MBA offers educational programs, covering recent
case law, new legislation, emerging legal trends, new rules of
practice and procedure, and issues of law practice management that
will benefit attorneys and their practice. CLE programs cater to
new, experienced and transitioning attorneys across a wide range of
practices. Courses are taught by some of the most experienced
attorneys in the commonwealth, and most programs include written
materials.
Although there is no continuing legal education requirement for
attorneys in Massachusetts, the MBA is an accredited sponsor of CLE
in New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Vermont and New York. Most MBA CLEs
qualify for three hours of CLE credit.
Taking advantage of free CLE is easy. Course offerings take
place at venues throughout the state, and many can be accessed
remotely through MBA On Demand. Members can sign up for programs
online at www.massbar.org/cle.
The MBA is in the process of building the catalog of programs
for the 2014-15 year. Visit the website regularly - new courses are
added all the time.
John Blazo contributed to this article.