Free and low-cost CLE

Quality CLE should not depend on your budget

You deserve the best continuing legal education whatever you can afford to pay for it. BHBA gives free access to attorneys who serve the public interest and to those who need financial help, and that means the whole library, live and OnDemand, plus the 25/40-hour Mediation Training. Not a discount. Free.
Who qualifies What's included Mediation training Students & new attorneys Free programs Members FAQ
Eligibility

Who qualifies for free BHBA CLE?

Free access is not a hardship program you have to argue your way into. It is how BHBA underwrites the public interest side of the profession. If any one of these describes you, you qualify.
You areWhat you get
An attorney employed by a §501(c)(3) organizationFull access to live and OnDemand CLE, plus the 25/40-hour Mediation Training
Currently employed by the federal government, or within the last three monthsFull access to live and OnDemand CLE
Currently employed by state or local government, or within the last three monthsFull access to live and OnDemand CLE
An attorney with annual household income of $75,000 or lessFull access to live and OnDemand CLE
One form. That is the whole process.
No membership purchase, no promo code, no renewal to remember. BHBA staff review each request and follow up by email.
Apply for free CLE access
Applying as a §501(c)(3) attorney? Use your organization's .org email address on the form.
What free access gets you
Best CLE Provider.
Two years running.
Named Best CLE Provider and Best Online CLE Provider by The Recorder in both 2025 and 2026. More than 1,400 multi-state accredited CLEs across 45 practice area sections. If you qualify for free access, this is the library you get. All of it.
View award-winning CLEs ›
The Recorder Best of 2026, CLE Provider The Recorder Best of 2026, Online CLE Provider The Recorder Best of 2025, CLE Provider The Recorder Best of 2025, Online CLE Provider
What's included

What do I actually get with free access?

The same thing a paying member gets. There is no stripped-down version.
  • Every live webinar on the calendar, all year
  • The full OnDemand library, 1,400+ multi-state accredited programs across 45 practice areas
  • Participatory credit in California on every program, live or OnDemand. BHBA is State Bar of California Approved MCLE Provider #43, a Multiple Activity Provider
  • Automatic credit tracking with a personal dashboard, deadlines, and downloadable certificates
  • Accreditation in your jurisdiction if you practice outside California
Explore OnDemand Browse the calendar
Mediation training

Free 25/40-hour Mediation Training for volunteers and nonprofit attorneys

BHBA's 25/40-hour Mediation Training meets state and court requirements. It is free for four groups, and two of those are volunteer commitments rather than income tests.
  • Attorneys at §501(c)(3) organizations. No membership required.
  • Fee arbitration volunteers. Commit to conducting at least two arbitrations for BHBA's Mandatory Fee Arbitration Program in the year after you certify.
  • Resolve Law LA volunteers. Commit to conducting at least two MSCs in the year after you certify.
  • BHBA members. Most levels already include it. Log in and start.
You do the work, we cover the training. That is the whole arrangement.
Request complimentary access Volunteer as an arbitrator
Law students and new attorneys

Free membership for law students and new attorneys

If you are in law school or just admitted, membership costs nothing. That is a full Sustainer membership, which means unlimited CLE, section participation, the member directory, and mentorship.
Join free through NextGen
Open to everyone

Free individual CLE programs, no application required

Some programs we simply do not charge for, member or not. Choose from 25 hours of full participatory credit CLE. These are complete programs, not previews.
Free CLE: Family Preparedness, what attorneys working with immigrant parents need to know Free CLE: the current immigration landscape and how attorneys can help Free CLE: Animals Need Lawyers, litigation to help our nonhuman friends Free CLE: the Corporate Transparency Act has been declared unconstitutional, what's next Free CLE: Change the Law, writing and passing resolutions in the California legislature Free CLE: Present Cash Value Explained Free CLE: an introduction to water law in the state and federal context Free CLE: what in-house counsel wants every outside counsel to know Free CLE: the Sam Bankman-Fried trial, corruption, deception, scandal
Browse the full CLE library
Already a member

Do BHBA members pay for CLE?

Members at the Sustainer level or higher have unlimited access to the full OnDemand library and live programming at no additional cost.
If you are on a lower level and taking more than a few programs a year, upgrading is almost always cheaper than paying per course.
Compare membership levels
Common questions

Free CLE access frequently asked questions

Do I have to be a BHBA member to get free CLE access?

No. The nonprofit, government, and income-based tracks are open to any attorney regardless of membership.

Does free access expire?

No. Access continues as long as you remain eligible.

Do free BHBA CLEs count for California MCLE compliance?

Yes. Every BHBA program, live or OnDemand, earns participatory credit. BHBA is State Bar of California Approved MCLE Provider #43. See the full California CLE requirements.

I practice outside California. Can I still use these programs?

Yes. Select your jurisdiction on the application form and BHBA will accredit your programs accordingly.

What if I do not fit any of the categories?

Email and tell us your situation. There is more flexibility than the form suggests.