Guam Continuing Legal Education (CLE) Requirements

Guam CLE Requirements at a Glance

Requirement	Details
Total Hours	10 credit hours per calendar year
Ethics / Professionalism	2 hours required
Delivery Formats Allowed	Live, self-study, video/audio, in-office, teaching, committee work
Compliance Period	January 1 – December 31 each year
Reporting / Certification Deadline	January 31 of the following year
Carryover Credit	Up to 6 credit hours may carry over one year (including up to 2 ethics)
Exemptions / Special Rules	Newly admitted attorneys exempt in first year; waivers or extensions possible
Reporting Responsibility	Active members must submit a Certification of Attendance to Guam Bar

Overview

Every active member of the Guam Bar must complete 10 hours of approved CLE annually, of which 2 hours must be in ethics or legal professionalism. The CLE year is January 1 through December 31, and attorneys must certify attendance by January 31 of the following year. Excess credit may carry over (limited).

Newly admitted attorneys are exempt from filing in their first reporting year. Waivers or extensions for hardship may be granted upon petition.

CLE Credit Hour Requirements

• 10 total CLE hours required per year
• 2 of those hours must be in ethics or professionalism
• Approved formats include: live courses, video, audio, self-study, law firm in-office programs, teaching, committee participation, and approved bar activities
• Credits are not awarded for repeating the same program within the same or prior year
• In-office or internal training courses must have an agenda, syllabus, and relation to legal practice to qualify

Compliance Period

• The CLE period is January 1 through December 31
• All required credits must be completed in that calendar year
• Certification must be submitted by January 31 of the next year

Reporting and Certification

• Attorneys must submit a Certification of Attendance to the Guam Bar Association by January 31
• Late certification is only allowed with Supreme Court approval upon written request
• The Bar conducts a random audit of at least 15% of members for compliance
• If a deficiency is found, the Bar issues a Notice of Delinquency with 90 days to cure

Carryover Rules

• Excess credits beyond the 10-hour requirement may carry over up to 6 credit hours for one year
• Up to 2 ethics hours may be carried over as ethics in the next year

Exemptions and Special Rules

• Newly admitted attorneys are exempt from filing in their first reporting year
• Waivers may be granted for medical, hardship, or other good cause via petition to the Supreme Court of Guam
• Extensions may also be requested, which temporarily tol l reporting time
• Certification extensions or waivers must generally be filed by January 31

Approved Providers, Accreditation & Alternative Credit Methods

• Courses approved by the Guam Bar Association or recognized by other jurisdiction CLE bodies are eligible
• Teaching, firm in-office courses, committee service, and other educational activities may qualify if submitted with agenda and justification
• Bar or Supreme Court committees, firm-sponsored programs, and self-study media may be eligible under the Rule’s criteria

Non-Compliance Penalties

• If a member fails to certify, the Bar issues a Notice of Delinquency
• The member has 90 days to cure the deficiency and pay a delinquency fee (e.g. $300 per year)
• Failure to cure results in a Notice of Noncompliance filed with the Supreme Court of Guam
• After 90 days without cure, the attorney is automatically suspended
• Reinstatement requires submission of CLE proof and payment of delinquency and reinstatement fees

How to Report CLE in Guam

1. Complete your required CLE by December 31
2. Prepare a Certification of Attendance (using the Bar’s form or program certification)
3. Submit the certification to the Guam Bar Association by January 31
4. If deficient, respond to a Notice of Delinquency and complete missing credits within 90 days
5. For waiver or extension, file petition to Supreme Court with justification

Guam CLE Frequently Asked Questions

How many CLE hours does Guam require?

10 hours per year, including 2 hours of ethics or professionalism.

Can I do all CLE online or self-study?

Yes — self-study, video, audio, and other formats are allowed if they meet the Rule’s criteria.

How many hours must be ethics?

2 credit hours must be devoted to ethics or professionalism.

Can credits be carried over?

Yes. Up to 6 hours may carry over for one year, and up to 2 ethics hours may carry forward.

Who is exempt from Guam CLE reporting?

Newly admitted attorneys are exempt in their first reporting year.

What happens if I don’t certify on time?

You may receive a delinquency notice, be required to cure deficiencies, or be suspended if noncompliant.

Do firm in-office trainings or committee work count?

Yes, if you submit agendas, program content, and justification consistent with the Rule.

Guam CLE Resources

• Guam Bar Association CLE Rules (PDF)
• Guam CLE Certification Form: https://guambar.org/sites/default/files/2020gbastandardclecertification_form.pdf
• Guam Bar Association: https://guambar.org/
• Pacific Islands Legal Information Institute (PI Law) – Guam CLE Rules: https://www.paclii.org/gu/rules/profconductrules/grgmcle2011543.rtf