Capital Area Private Defender Service

CAPDS Continuing Legal Education (CLE) Requirements

• The CLE compliance year for CAPDS panel attorneys is the calendar year (January 1st - December 31st).
  
• Attorneys are asked to report their compliance each January for the proceeding year.
• Attorneys not current on their CLE requirements are suspended from receiving new assignments until any deficiencies are resolved.

All Panel Attorneys

Panel attorneys must complete:

• 15 hours of criminal law CLE, including
  
  • 1 hour of ethics relating to the practice of criminal law
    
  • 3 hours of Mental Health CLE
    
  • 1 hour of immigration CLE
    

Attorneys who are board certified in criminal law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization and show proof of that certification need only additionally show compliance with the immigration and mental health CLE requirements.

Mental Health Panel Attorneys

Mental Health Panel attorneys must complete three additional hours of mental health CLE for a total of:

• 18 hours of criminal law CLE, including:
  
  • 1 hour of ethics relating to the practice of criminal law
    
  • 6 hours of Mental Health CLE
    
  • 1 hour of immigration CLE
    

Appellate Panel Attorneys

Appellate Panel attorneys must complete five hours of appellate CLE for a total of:

• 15 hours of criminal law CLE, including:
  
  • 5 hours of appellate CLE
    
  • 1 hour of ethics relating to the practice of criminal law
    
  • 3 hours of Mental Health CLE
    
  • 1 hour of immigration CLE.