The Education Office administers all judicial education programs for state court judges and magistrates and oversees Mandatory Continuing Legal Education (MCLE) programs for the 6,000 Rhode Island licensed attorneys. Both types of programs share the same goal: to sharpen the ability of the bench and bar to respond to the dynamic changes in our community.

       The MCLE Commission has 13 members. The Commission oversees all activities of the Education Office related to the MCLE requirements for attorneys, including communicating with sponsor agencies, reviewing attorney applications and compliance reports, notifying attorneys of non-compliance, and developing curriculum in conjunction with bar associations, law schools, law firms, and private agencies.

        Commission duties include the review of exemption requests, course eligibility, and finances. Other commission functions include reexamining the MCLE rules to meet the evolving needs of the legal profession and responding to advances in educational technology. The commission also cooperates with other MCLE states to facilitate reciprocal compliance for multi-state licensed attorneys.