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• How do I become licensed to practice law in Colorado? Is there reciprocity with other states, or will I have to take the Colorado bar exam?
• How many CLE credits do I have?
• How many credits do I have to earn, and how much time do I have to earn them?
• What are the different categories of CBA membership, and how are they defined? What are the dues levels?
• I'm not licensed to practice law in Colorado. Can I still become a CBA member?
• How do I join a section or committee?
• Can I subscribe to The Colorado Lawyer without being a Colorado Bar Association member?
• I have LEXIS-NEXIS on my computer, but I'm not really sure that I use it efficiently. Can the CBA help?
• I would like to learn more about the software that I have. Can the CBA help me?
• Is legal malpractice insurance required in Colorado?
• How come I'm getting another invoice in June? I just paid in January!
• If I change my address with the CBA, does this also get changed at Attorney Registration?

Question: I'm thinking of moving to Colorado. How do I become licensed to practice law in Colorado? Is there reciprocity with other states, or will I have to take the Colorado bar exam?

Answer: For the answers to these questions, you will need to contact the State Board of Law Examiners, an office of the Colorado Supreme Court. They can be reached at:

State Board of Law Examiners
1560 Broadway, Suite 1820
Denver, CO 80202
(303) 866-6626

You can find more information on the Board of Law Examiners website at www.coloradosupremecourt.com.

Question: How many CLE credits do I have?

Answer: The CLE Board of the Colorado Supreme Court keeps track of this information. To obtain a transcript of your CLE activities with dates of your current compliance period and a list of credits earned, visit http://www.coloradosupremecourt.com/CLE/Transcripts.asp. You will need your attorney registration number and date of birth to view your records.

State of Colorado Supreme Court
Board of Continuing Legal and Judicial Education
1560 Broadway, Suite 1820
Denver, CO 80202
(303) 866-6500
www.coloradosupremecourt.com/CLE/CleFaq.htm

Question: How many credits do I have to earn, and how much time do I have to earn them?

Answer: You must earn forty-five general credits over a compliance period of three calendar years. Seven of these credits must be in legal ethics. Credits are units of value assigned to a qualifying activity usually on the basis of the time you are involved in the activity.

All newly admitted attorneys must satisfy four of the seven hour legal ethics requirement during their first compliance period by completing the Colorado Bar Association's Mandatory Course on Professionalism.

The initial compliance period for newly admitted attorneys includes the balance of the year in which they are admitted plus the three subsequent calendar years.

To view a complete explanation on CLE requirements visit the Supreme Court site. www.coloradosupremecourt.com

Question: What are the different categories of CBA membership, and how are they defined? What are the dues levels?

Answer: There are three categories of active membership in the Colorado Bar Association, based on the number of years a member has been licensed to practice law in any jurisdiction, not just in Colorado. The Senior category is for attorneys who have been licensed more than 8 years. The Intermediate category is for attorneys licensed more than 4 years but less than 8 years. The Junior category is for attorneys who have been licensed less than 4 years. The dues are as follows:

It is important to remember that the number of years is based on and attorney’s first date of admission, which may or may not be in Colorado. For example, if an attorney was first licensed to practice in Kansas in 1990 and then in Colorado in 1995, that attorney would be a Senior member.

All Senior, Intermediate and Junior CBA members who live in Colorado must also belong to at least one of the 27 local bar associations across the state. This is required to maintain CBA membership.

The Student membership category is for students at accredited law schools. While not required, student members are encouraged to join a local bar association as well. There are currently 6 local bar associations that offer student membership (Denver, Boulder, Arapahoe, Douglas/ Elbert, El Paso and Weld). CBA Student dues are $25.

The Retired category is for those attorneys who are over the age of 65 and not practicing law full time. CBA Retired dues are $75.

The Inactive category is for attorneys who are on inactive status with the Colorado Supreme Court. Inactive members are not required to join a local bar association but may do so if they wish. Both the Denver and El Paso County Bar Associations have an Inactive membership category. CBA Inactive dues are $75.

Question: I'm not licensed to practice law in Colorado. Can I still become a CBA member?

Answer: Yes. As long as you are licensed in another state, you may join the CBA.

Question: How do I join a section or committee?

Answer: Just call the Membership Services Department at (303) 860-1115 or send email to membership@cobar.org to let us know which section(s) or forum committee(s) you would like to join. We will sign you up right away, and then will send you an invoice for the dues.

Question: Can I subscribe to The Colorado Lawyer without being a Colorado Bar Association member?

Answer: If you are residing in or licensed to practice in Colorado, no, you cannot. However, if you live in another state and are not licensed in Colorado you can subscribe to The Colorado Lawyer for $100 a year. Contact The Colorado Lawyer for more information at (303) 860-1118.

Question: I have LEXIS-NEXIS on my computer, but I'm not really sure that I use it efficiently. Can the CBA help?

Answer: Yes! The CBA and LEXIS-NEXIS offer free training classes on LEXIS research strategies. For class times see the schedule on our Web site. To reserve a space or to receive more information, call Michelle Gersic at (303)824-5342.

Question: I would like to learn more about the software that I have. Can the CBA help me?

Answer: Yes! The Colorado Bar Association runs software training classes with Hands-On-Computer Software Training. All of the classes are designed for lawyers and their staff. Click here for more information.

Question: Is legal malpractice insurance required in Colorado?

Answer: No, but it is highly recommended by the CBA. Take a look at Malpractice Insurance Information. It will give you the basics of malpractice insurance.

Question: How come I'm getting another invoice in June? I just paid in January!

Answer: The invoices are from two separate organizations, so you are not getting billed twice for the same thing!

It is very likely that the bill that you paid in January was to the Colorado Supreme Court Office of Attorney Registration. This is for your law license; if you do not pay this within a specific time period, your license will not be valid. Their billing period runs on a calendar year, and the money is due at the end of February.

The CBA runs on a fiscal year from July to June. We do our membership renewal billing in early to mid-June, so anything that you receive in the summer is from the CBA.

Question: If I change my address with the CBA, does this also get changed at Attorney Registration?

Answer: No. The CBA is separate from Attorney Registration, and we maintain separate membership databases. If you give the CBA an address change, you should also notify Attorney Registration at (303) 866-6554 or visit their website at http://www.coloradosupremecourt.com/Registration/Services.htm#AddChg

Giving the CBA an address change will also change it for your local bar association, and any other bar-related mailings. We do share our address changes with Continuing Legal Education of Colorado, Inc. (CLECI) as frequently as possible, but you may also want to call them at (303) 860-0608 and let them know that you have moved.