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Why Civility Matters for Ethics, Mental Health, and Public Confidence
By Stacy Plotkin-Wolff
It’s mid-2025, and California’s new civility CLE requirement is now officially in effect. For the first time, all California attorneys must complete at least one hour of continuing legal education addressing civility in the legal profession. This change is more than a technical update to MCLE compliance—it represents a critical acknowledgment by the State Bar of California that civility is foundational to attorney wellness, ethical practice, and, ultimately, public confidence in the legal system. In an era where trust in institutions is increasingly fragile, how lawyers treat each other and the courts has become a reflection of how the justice system treats the public.