The Scottish Legal Aid Board sets certain requirements for members. To support members who need to meet SLAB requirements, this registration page can be helpful. Only hours of professionalism, including hours of EDI professionalism, must be accredited by the Law Society. For more information on accreditation standards and requirements, see CPD Accreditation for Licensees. Condition 1 is a legal requirement imposed on an Australian Practitioner Certificate under section 52 of the Uniform Legal Profession Act (NSW). This condition requires the certificate holder to comply with the applicable requirements of the Uniform Rules on Continuing Professional Development (Lawyers), 2015. Lawyers who are required to complete mandatory training other than because of the company`s CPD requirements may count that training as part of the continuing education requirement during that particular practice year. This may include, but is not limited to: There are a variety of ways to meet your CPD requirements. These include seminars, workshops, conferences, conferences, discussion groups, multimedia or online programmes, private studies of audiovisual material, postgraduate studies, research, preparation and editing of articles, membership and participation in committees of professional associations, successful completion of the specialised accreditation evaluation process, preparation and presentation of seminars. For the complete list, see CpD Rule 8.
You can claim to have successfully completed a practice management course in relation to your CPD requirements. If you have been absent from practice (parental leave, sick leave, unemployment, etc.) or if your personal circumstances have made it difficult for you to meet your CPD requirements for the year, you may be eligible for an exemption. If you have been practicing for 40 years or more and are not a principal, you may be eligible for a continuing exemption. Requests for exemption are not automatically granted and the approval committee must ensure that there are extenuating circumstances justifying the exemption. See: Request for exemption from CPD requirements. There are a number of formal exceptions to CPD requirements. Lawyers may also apply to the Registrar for a waiver of the requirements. Circumstances in which a waiver may be contemplated include, but are not limited to, dismissal and retirement. The following exceptions apply:1. Lawyers who suffer from a long-term illness for 10 weeks or more in a practice year – and who take time off work – can reduce their CPD needs to the nearest full hour in proportion to the number of weeks worked in the rounded practice year. To calculate the number of hours required, divide the number of weeks worked by 2.6 and round it to the nearest integer (for example, lawyers working between 37 and 39 weeks in a practice year must complete 15 hours of CPD).2.
Lawyers on maternity, paternity or adoption leave may meet their CPD requirement in proportion to the number of weeks worked during the practice year, rounded up to the nearest full hour, reduced according to the formula above.3. Lawyers who return to practice during the practice year may reduce their CPD requirement in proportion to the number of weeks worked in the practice year rounded to the nearest full hour, as defined above.4. Trainees admitted during the year of exercise are not required to undergo additional training before the beginning of the year of practice following the date of the end of their training contract (provided that they have subsequently been admitted and hold an internship certificate). Note: In each of the first three exceptions, the proportions of verifiable CPD and private studies must be reduced proportionately. The CPD program is based on self-assessment of educational activities. If you find that an activity expands your knowledge and skills in areas relevant to your practice needs or professional development, you can request that the activity meet the CPD requirements. See Rule 7 of the CPD. Keep up to date with your CPD requirements – consult the program regulations and documentation for the current year and recent years. The decision was taken in the context of the current circumstances regarding Covid-19, which has seen a very high number of cases in recent weeks. Since the end of February 2022, almost all Covid restrictions have been eased and we have seen a gradual return to work, combined with the return of our social and leisure lives. Nevertheless, the Committee is aware of the health concerns and reservations that some professionals may naturally have. On behalf of society, the Committee is committed to supporting the profession in continuing education and to ensuring that lawyers invest in themselves by implementing training measures.
The company therefore believes that the exemption from the 2022 e-learning limit will help and comfort the profession as we continue to adapt and navigate our path after the pandemic as a society. Think before you check! Do not mislead the Law Society by certifying that you have met your CPD requirements as part of the Certificate of Practice process. Professional development (“CPD”) is the systematic maintenance, improvement and expansion of relevant knowledge and skills to enable a professional to successfully carry out their professional duties and responsibilities throughout their career. CPD provides an appropriate framework for the profession to meet the changing needs of clients and society, to continually update knowledge and skills, improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the profession, and enable certain practitioners to redefine their careers by acquiring new professional skills and areas of practice. The Law Society (“Society”) has considered the need for busy practitioners to meet CPD requirements through learning methods other than participation in traditional lectures. For example, the preparation of dissertations, the writing of legal articles and books, participation in distance learning courses, and the preparation and presentation of courses are treated as CPD activities. The CPD program is an honor-based CPD program. You are entitled to pro rata leave if you work part-time or informally. See: Application Form for Exemption from CPD Requirements. If you have recently started holding an internship certificate for the first time or have started practicing again after a break, you may have different CPD requirements for the initial phase.
