Did you find yourself scrambling to complete your Continuing Legal Education (CLE) credits at the end of last year? It’s a familiar story for many attorneys. You begin the year with the intention to stay ahead, but the demands of your practice quickly take over, pushing CLE to the back burner.
This year can be different. By integrating proven time management strategies into your routine, you can stay on top of your CLE requirements without the eleventh-hour panic. Here are five powerful techniques to ensure you stay on track with your CLE throughout the year to support your career success.
1. Master Your Focus with the Pomodoro Technique
This simple yet effective time management method was developed to improve focus and fight mental fatigue. It works by breaking down your work into focused, 25-minute intervals, known as “Pomodoros,” separated by short breaks. After completing four Pomodoros, you take a longer break.
How does this apply to your CLE? Instead of seeing a one-hour course as an insurmountable block of time, view it as just two Pomodoros. This approach makes the task feel less intimidating and helps you maintain solid concentration. You commit to just 25 minutes of focused learning, which is a far easier ask on a busy day.
This method is perfectly suited to the on-demand learning available with BARBRI CLE. BARBRI’s on-demand CLE courses give you the power to press pause as needed. You can step away for a short break and return refreshed, picking up exactly where you left off. This isn’t just a convenience; it’s a strategic way to ensure the material you are studying actually sticks.
2. Divide + Conquer
When you look at your total annual CLE requirement, it may feel like a mountain. But when you break it down into single courses, or even portions of courses, it becomes a series of smaller, more manageable steps.
If you find it impossible to dedicate a full hour to a course, commit to 15 or 30 minutes instead. That’s a realistic goal you can fit into a lunch break or the time before your first morning meeting. Completing these small chunks consistently builds momentum and a sense of accomplishment, making it easier to keep going.
A flexible CLE platform is essential for this method to work. You need a system that supports micro-learning sessions. BARBRI CLE automatically tracks your progress, saving your exact spot even if you log off. When you return, whether it’s later that day or the following week, you can resume instantly without losing your place. You have the freedom to make meaningful progress in whatever small pockets of time you can find.
3. Take Control of Your Calendar with Time Blocking
Time blocking is the practice of scheduling every part of your day. Instead of working from a simple to-do list, you assign specific blocks of time on your calendar for dedicated tasks. Treat your CLE like you would a client meeting or a court appearance — give it a non-negotiable spot on your calendar.
Schedule a one-hour block once or twice a month dedicated solely to completing a BARBRI CLE course. When you formalize your commitment on your calendar, you transform an intention into an appointment. It’s no longer a vague goal, but a concrete task scheduled for a specific time. Add a link directly to your BARBRI CLE dashboard in the calendar event so when the time arrives, you simply click and begin.
4. Eat That Frog! (The Brian Tracy Method)
Author and productivity expert Brian Tracy coined the phrase “Eat That Frog!” to describe a simple rule: Tackle your most important or dreaded task first thing in the morning. By getting your most challenging task out of the way, you gain a sense of accomplishment that carries you through the rest of your day.
While a CLE course might not seem like your most pressing daily task, completing your annual requirement is absolutely critical to your ability to practice law. Plus, the stress associated with falling behind on your continuing education is a distraction you don’t need.
Make completing a CLE course your “frog.” On a designated day, commit to knocking out one course before you dive into emails or other client work. By dedicating a small part of your morning on a regular basis, you can finish your entire CLE requirement with months to spare. No more end-of-year scramble.
5. Leverage the Power of an Accountability Partner
Find a colleague, perhaps someone in your practice area, and share your CLE goals. An accountability partner can provide the structure and motivation needed to stay on course.
Agree to a schedule and a series of courses you will both complete. Set up regular, brief check-ins to discuss what you’ve learned and confirm you are both staying on track.
Knowing someone is counting on you, and will be asking about your progress, makes it much harder to procrastinate. Furthermore, discussing the course material can deepen your understanding and help you identify practical applications for your practice.
Take Command of Your CLE with BARBRI
Stop letting your CLE requirements manage you. BARBRI provides a CLE platform built to support control and flexibility. With access to a library of over 6,000 professional development courses across every major practice area, you have the resources you need at your fingertips.
Find a CLE credit solution that has your busy schedule in mind.
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