CPD Requirements In Legal Profession
As a qualified legal professional you are required to undertake CPD that is relevant and appropriate to your professional responsibilities and personal development. In order to count towards CPD, the training or development activity undertaken must be:
- Relevant to your individual needs. You should identify your individual learning and development needs in deciding which training courses to attend.
- Measurable. You should be able to measure learning activities undertaken or outcomes achieved to meet your individual (and Professional Bodies) requirements.
- Verifiable. You should retain appropriate records and documents relating to CPD activities undertaken and, where requested by your member body, provide sufficient evidence to demonstrate compliance with the requirements of that body.
Trainee Solicitors
The Professional Skills Course must be completed by all trainee solicitors during their training contracts and before qualification.
The PSC comprise three compulsory courses:
Financial and Business Skills (3-day course plus an examination)
Advocacy and Communication Skills (3-day course)
Client Care and Professional Standards (2-day course) In addition to the three compulsory courses, trainees must also complete 24 hours training in electives. These should follow the compulsory courses and build on the skills of those courses.
Trainees are permitted to undertake 12 hours of elective training by way of distance learning.
Trainees who completed a Legal Practice Course (LPC) that began before Autumn 1997 will not have covered accounts in their LPC. They must follow a special 4-day Accounts course plus an examination. This satisfies the full 21-hours elective requirement.
Solicitors
The Law Society has operated a compulsory Continuing Professional Development scheme since 1985. Over the years, it has evolved into a system guided by the principles of simplicity and flexibility. Solicitors are encouraged to assume responsibility for their own development by choosing from the wide range of activities that can be pursued in order to meet the yearly CPD requirement. All solicitors and registered European lawyers (RELs) who Are in legal practice or employment in England and Wales, and work 32 hours or more per week, are required to complete a minimum of 16 hours CPD per year. Management Course Stage 1 is compulsory for all solicitors who are 0 3 years qualified. Solicitors can take this course at any time during this period, but if they are in their 3rd year, they must attend the course before 31 October. It is accredited for 7 CPD hours, which can be counted towards the required 16 hours for the year. For more information visit www.lawsociety.org.uk Legal Executives The systematic maintenance, improvement and extension of the professional and legal skills, and personal qualities, necessary for the execution of professional and legal duties, and compliance with the standards required by the Institute throughout the Legal Executives working life. CPD is compulsory for all Fellows of the Institute of Legal Executives. CPD takes place on an annual basis and the CPD year runs from 1 January 31 December. During this time a Fellow is required to complete a minimum of 8 hours CPD.
Licensed Conveyancers
A licensed conveyancer must complete a minimum of 6 hours CPD in recognised courses in each licence year in which he holds a limited licence. The licence year runs from 1 November to the following 31 October. A licensed conveyancer must complete a minimum of 12 hours CPD in recognised courses in each licence year in which he holds a full licence. The licence year runs from 1 November to the following 31 October. This requirement shall prevail where a full licence takes effect immediately upon the expiration of a limited licence.
For more information visit www.lawsociety.org.uk