The Mandatory Continuing Legal Education (MCLE) Commission sponsors programs for attorneys that focus on Supreme Court priorities, rules, procedures and programs.  The MCLE Commission staff sponsored seven programs across the state in 2019 providing live education on court programs and requirements to over 800 attorneys.  Sessions that focused on professionalism in the courtroom, cognitive decline and an attorney’s need to plan for a sudden disability were held in Lincoln, Grand Island, North Platte, Gering, Hastings, and O’Neill. Over 700 attorneys signed up for the session held in La Vista on October 8, 2019 thatfocused on updates in court rules and programs.  

​Such programming has historically been offered as part of the Chief Justice’s summer tour.  However, in the last two years the Attorney Services Division has added an additional week in which it travels to the western part of the State to deliver legal education programming.  A part of the programming involves educating attorneys on proposed Supreme Court rule changes.   This allows attorneys to express concerns about rule changes that are taken back to the Court.  The recent rules changes the court implemented with respect to electronic presentence reports took into account the concerns expressed by attorneys about the rules.  

​Court rules now require attorneys to use technology for e-filing, license renewal and to become educated to accept court appointments.  With these requirements comes the need to provide attorney education on complying with rule changes.  The Court’s Attorney Services Division works to ensure attorneys are prepared to meet challenges posed by changing rules and requirements.