Our new "video" online class format offers you the option of viewing video from the course while you listen to it. You can also select "audio only" if your Internet connection is too slow for the video stream.
Either way, this new format allows you to easily navigate to different segments of the course, view written materials, and claim your MCLE credit, all from the convenience of your PC.

Choose from hundreds hours of video and audio recordings of recent CLE presentations. View or download accompanying materials, then enjoy the presentation. Share comments or questions in the discussion area for that topic - all at your convenience. Online Classroom packages typically feature 1-3 topics for a total of 1-3 credit hours; many include ethics credit.

We accept payment online by credit card (American Express, Discover, MasterCard or Visa). Payment online by credit card is our only way to handle registrations automatically and efficiently. You must be a registered with TexasBarCLE.com and you must be logged in to sign up for an online class. Once you have registered for an online class, a receipt will be e-mailed to you and a link to your class will appear at the top of the home page. You may use this link on your home page to return to your online class at any time. Once you have claimed credit for your class, the link to your class will move your "My Purchases" button. You will have access to your class for at least 3 months, sometimes you may be able to access a class for a year. We take down online classes each year as we replace the content with new material.

• A computer with a sound card and speakers. (Recommended for classes offered in video: Pentium PC with 16MB RAM--32MB recommended, Windows 95, 98 or NT 4, 800x600 display mode, 256 colors, 1024x768 display, 16-bit high color)
• A web browser. Microsoft Internet Explorer 5 or higher, Netscape Navigator 4.0 (we currently do not support Netscape 6.0 and higher); Cookies, Java, and JavaScript enabled.
• A modem with minimum speed of 28.8 Kbps. (We recommend a faster modem speed.)
• The free Windows Media Player (lets you listen to and/or watch online classes offered in video) downloaded and installed. You will need Windows Media Player version 6.4 or later.
  Download Windows Media Player

If the seminar you are viewing has presentation slides, you will see the slide icon on the viewer toolbar. If you have moved off the slide screen, you can return to the presentation slides by clicking the slide icon. You can advance through the slides or move back through previously viewed slides by clicking the "<" and ">" icons. When you want to synch the slides back up with the presentation, click the slide icon again.

The stream speed of the video can be changed by clicking on the drop-down list below the video. Simply select the desired speed from the list and the video will be reloaded and play at the selected speed. If you experience substantial buffering of the video, try the audio only selection.

Adobe Acrobat Reader is free software that lets you view and print our course materials, which are formatted as PDF files. You must have it downloaded AND installed on your computer. PDF stands for Portable Document Format. The advantage of PDF files is that they can be read and printed on all major computer platforms. PDF files also have their own search engine, and each page appears exactly as it did in the original course book. PDF files, however, are not word processing documents. Although you can copy and paste text from a PDF file into a word processing document, most of the formatting will be lost. We recommend printing the materials prior to starting the seminar to avoid pauses in the Internet video.

Download the free Adobe Reader.

Please remember that you must both download AND install the software on your computer. Downloading the software does not necessarily install the program automatically for you.

Online Classroom packages are approved for participatory MCLE credit. In order to qualify you must visit the appropriate Discussion Forum. These forums are intended to provide the kind of interaction with other attorneys you might have at a live CLE course. We hope that you will be inclined to post a question or opinion or join in a discussion about a relevant point of law, but you are not required to. Please do not simply post a message acknowledging your presence or giving your name and the date you visited. Just visit the forum and, if you feel like doing so, ask a question or contribute something substantive. You must apply for MCLE credit online by clicking the "Claim Credit" button while in the online course. We submit Online Classroom attendance to the MCLE department each Monday and on the first of each month.

Try closing your Internet browser and restarting it. Go back to TexasBarCLE.com and return to your online class by clicking on the link at the top of the home page (you must be logged in to see the link). Just restart the video or audio of the online class. You don't have to listen to the class again, just restart it. Then you should be able to visit the Discussion Forum.

TexasBarCLE.com currently supports the latest version of Internet Explorer, and Netscape 4.77 and below. Our site currently does not support Netscape 6 or higher. To find out what browser version you are using, open your browser and check in the Help menu of the software's menu bar (the strip at the top where it says File Edit View…Help). The last option in the Help menu usually says About (and then the name of the software). This is where your version number is listed. Please make note of the version number and then go to the software manufacturer's site to see if you need to download the latest version.

• Download Microsoft Internet Explorer on the Microsoft website.
• Download Netscape Navigator on the Netscape website.

First make sure your speakers are plugged in. A simple technique is to unplug and plug in your speakers to ensure that they are solidly connected. Don't forget to check the speaker's electrical connection to the wall, if such a connection is required. If your speakers require batteries, make sure they are fresh. Check to see if the speakers are turned on. Many speakers have on/off switches that may need to be adjusted.

• On the speakers themselves. Usually there is a volume knob on the speakers.
• In your computer's operating system. Windows users can find this setting by going to the Start menu, then Settings, then Control Panel, and then by clicking on the Multimedia item; from there click on the first tab, Audio/Playback.

If you have all the necessary components but still can not view your seminar, click here for detailed documentation on using Windows Media Player.

Sluggish Performance

Interruption (or sluggish performance) of the audio/video signal can be caused by many factors. As a first step, try changing the speed of the video stream or choose an audio-only stream. If you still encounter interruptions in your audio-only class, it may be due to:

• Accessing the service during times of peak usage.
• Accessing the service when your local area is experiencing bad weather. Especially in certain parts of the state, this can cause you to lose your connection altogether or for it to become sluggish as it compensates for communication errors on the line.

The faster your Internet connection, the more quickly you will be able to surf the Web and download files. (For example, a cable modem will download a 30-second video clip in 16 seconds; a 56K modem will take over 15 minutes to download that same clip.) Users with faster modems also tend to encounter fewer problems listening to Online Classroom lectures; while users with slower modems (below 56K) may experience choppy sound or video due to the sluggish performace of these devices.

If you have a dial-up connection (which typically runs anywhere from speeds of 56K to as low as 14.4K), we recommend that you choose an audio-only class (or the audio-only option of a class offered in video) for the smoothest experience. If you have a higher speed connection (such as ISDN, Cable Modem, DSL or T1) you should have no trouble with either the audio or video online class formats.

If you have any questions or comments, please email Shane Jenkins. At this time, we are unable to provide customer support live over the phone. You will receive the quickest response via email.

If you wish to leave a voice mail message, please call 800/204-2222, ext. 2049. (in Austin 463-1463, ext. 2049)