Continuing legal education (CLE) is a requirement imposed on lawyers in nearly every state that requires them to take a certain number of hours in legal study to ensure continuing competence and professionalism. Various bar associations and other groups offer CLE courses, which usually consist of presentations by experts, panels debating current legal topics, and various other teaching methods. Many states now allow attorneys to take online CLE courses. Attorneys can also obtain CLE credit for publishing legal articles and teaching law courses to undergraduates, paralegals, or law students.