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California attorneys must complete a minimum of 25 credit hours of approved continuing legal education activities every 3 years including at least 4 hours of Ethics, 1 hour of Civility, 1 hour of Technology, 2 hours of Competence and 2 hours of Elimination of Bias. Additionally, at least one of the hours in Elimination of Bias must be an approved Implicit Bias program.
At least 12.5 of the credit hours must be in a "Participatory" format. The remaining hours can be in a self-study format.
**The State Bar of California is implementing changes to the MCLE course requirements effective October 1, 2023. Beginning with the compliance period ending March 29, 2025, licensees will be required to also complete and report compliance on the following new subfields:
Technology in the Practice of Law (one credit)
Civility in the Legal Profession (one credit)
Competence (Increased from one credit to two)
California attorneys may earn all 25 hours with the United Institute for Continuing Legal Education. Our Online and iOS/Android App platforms are automatically deemed participatory and our MP3/MP4 downloaded courses may also be taken in participatory form as well.
California MCLE rules do not allow carryover. Credit for participating in a CLE activity may not be earned forward from one compliance period to another.
Members are required to comply online under “My State Bar Profile” www.calbar.ca.gov by attesting under penalty of perjury that the member has complied with the education requirement or is exempt and the nature of the exemption. Attorneys who are unable to comply online must contact the State Bar’s Member Services Center 888-800-3400.
State Bar of California
180 Howard Street
San Francisco, CA 94105-1639
(t) 415-538-2100
(f) 415-538-2180 mcle.calbar.ca.gov
From Screen to Courtroom: Practical Trial Lessons for Litigators from Film
United Institute for Continuing Legal Education is a CLE provider accredited by the California State Bar, Provider #15390.
To view our full accreditation details please .
General Credits
1.5
$55
LIVE WEBINAR
May 21
Thursday, May 21, 2026
12:00PM - 1:30PM Eastern Time (EDT)
About This Course
This CLE program takes a practical, skills-oriented approach to trial advocacy by analyzing selected film scenes that depict litigation in action. Drawing from a curated set of movies, the session uses dramatized portrayals to surface real-world lessons on strategy, courtroom dynamics, and professional judgment. Participants will explore multiple subject areas through these examples, assessing what the films get right—and where they diverge from actual practice.
Designed to be both instructive and engaging, the program encourages attorneys to view familiar material through a more critical, practice-focused lens. In addition to the core segments, the program will highlight additional films and scenes for continued learning beyond the session.
