Court approves CLE tech component: the change adds 3 CLE hours to the reporting cycle, all in technology.

The Supreme Court approved a three-hour increase in the Bar's CLE requirement, plus a new mandate to take technology-related CLE courses.

With the September 29 opinion in case no. SC 16-574, The Florida Bar becomes the first mandatory bar in the nation to require a CLE tech component for its members.

The Board of Governors sent the three-hour increase in the Bar's CLE requirement, plus a new mandate to take technology-related CLE courses, to the court a year ago. It began as a recommendation of the Technology Committee of the Vision 2016 commission, as a way to improve the technological competence of Florida lawyers.

After the opinion was released, John Stewart, chair of the Board of Governors Technology Committee, tweeted that he is proud the Bar and the Supreme Court are leading Florida lawyers into the future by requiring technological competence.

The change increases the mandatory CLE hours for each Florida lawyer from 30 to 33 in a three-year reporting cycle with the three additional hours devoted to technology training. The amendments are effective January 1, 2017.

"The simple fact is that technology is changing the way lawyers practice," Stewart said. "This provides us an opportunity to offer more services to more clients at a better price point, and I suggest puts Florida lawyers at a national advantage in cultivating business where the business sees the value of technological competence."

Specifically, the court amended Rules 4-1.1 (Competence) and 6-10.3 (Minimum Continuing Legal Education Standards).

The unanimous court amended the comment to Rule 4-1.1 to add language providing "that competent representation may involve a lawyer's association with, or retention of, a nonlawyer advisor with established technological competence in the relevant field. Competent representation may also entail safeguarding confidential information related to the representation, including electronic transmissions and communications."

The court also...