Last updates as of february 9, 2021
CONTINUING LEGAL EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS
New York:
As of June 8, 2020 and through October 31, 2020, newly admitted attorneys (those admitted to the New York State Bar for two years or less) may participate in Skills CLE courses by either self-study or group participation, in the following live, nontraditional formats, where questions are allowed during the program, including web conference, teleconference, and videoconference.
New Jersey:
Until further notice, all twenty-four credit hours for the CLE compliance period may be fulfilled through approved courses offered in alternative verifiable learning formats. The requirement to attend live classroom CLEs is waived.
Connecticut:
Minimum continuing legal education requirements are suspended, effective March 24, 2020.
Pennsylvania:
Effective January 1, 2021 through December 31, 2021 the CLE Board is adopting a temporary policy to recognize live online programming by accredited distance learning providers as live (non-capped) credit towards lawyers’ CLE requirement. This will acknowledge the engagement and real-time learning experience synchronous training provides while extending compliance accommodations for attorneys.
ELECTRONIC NOTARIZATION
New York:
As part of Executive Order 202.7, and through July 6, 2020, any notarial act that is required under New York State law is authorized to be performed utilizing audio-video technology provided that the following conditions are met:
- The person seeking the Notary's services, if not personally known to the Notary, must present valid photo ID to the Notary during the video conference, not merely transmit it prior to or after;
- The video conference must allow for direct interaction between the person and the Notary (e.g. no pre-recorded videos of the person signing);
- The person must affirmatively represent that he or she is physically situated in the State of New York;
- The person must transmit by fax or electronic means a legible copy of the signed document directly to the Notary on the same date it was signed;
- The Notary may notarize the transmitted copy of the document and transmit the same back to the person; and
- The Notary may repeat the notarization of the original signed document as of the date of execution provided the Notary receives such original signed document together with the electronically notarized copy within thirty days after the date of execution.
New Jersey:
Governor Phil Murphy has signed legislation, P.L. 2020, chapter 26, permitting electronic notarization for the duration of the pandemic, effective April 14th, 2020.
Connecticut:
Under Executive Order 7ZZ, through the end of the emergency, notarial acts may be performed electronically by videoconference (“Communication Technology”), provided that the following conditions are met:
- The person seeking the notarial act ("Signatory") from a Notary Public or Commissioner, if not personally known to the Notary Public or Commissioner, shall present satisfactory evidence of identity, as defined by subsection 10 of section 3-94a of the General Statutes, while connected to the Communication Technology, not merely transmit it prior to or after the transaction;
- The Communication Technology must be capable of recording the complete notarial act and such recording shall be made and retained by the Notary Public or Commissioner for a period of not less than ten (10) years;
- The Signatory must affirmatively represent via the Communication Technology that he or she is physically situated in the State of Connecticut;
- The Signatory must transmit by fax or electronic means a legible copy of the signed document directly to the Notary Public or Commissioner on the same date it was executed;
- The Notary Public or Commissioner may notarize the transmitted copy of the document and transmit the same back to the signatory by fax or electronic means;
- The Notary Public or Commissioner may repeat the notarization of the original signed document as of the date of execution provided the Notary Public or Commissioner receives such original signed document, together with the electronically notarized copy, within thirty days after the date of execution;
- Notwithstanding the foregoing, only an attorney admitted to practice law in the State of Connecticut and in good standing may remotely administer a self-proving affidavit to a Last Will and Testament pursuant to section 45a-285 of the General Statues or conduct a real estate closing as required by Public Act 19-88.
Pennsylvania:
Beginning April 20, 2020, remote notarization is temporarily authorized for all Pennsylvania notaries public, pursuant to Act 15 of 2020 (S.B. 841), for the duration of the current emergency.