Blog: Solicitor CPD – All Change Please

Added by John Nee

There are changes afoot with solicitor CPD.

The Law Society has released a practice note about the changes, which you can read here.

When?

Solicitors may move to the new system as of 1 April 2015 or they may remain under the old system until 1 November 2016 when they must move to the new system.

Continuing Competence: The New System

Continuing competence is the new system which is replacing the old CPD regime. According to the SRA, “It is a way of showing that you meet the requirement under principle 5 of the SRA Handbook to provide a proper standard of service to your client by meeting the competences set out in the Competence Statement adopted on 1 April 2015”.

The key idea is to keep your skills and knowledge up to date.

Set number of hours? GONE

Accredited courses/ training requirements? GONE

Management Course Stage 1? GONE

It is now for you to decide what suits you best. The Law Society note suggests that you consider the following:

  • participation in courses.
  • coaching and/or mentoring sessions.
  • work towards a National Vocational Qualification (NVQ) or other qualification.
  • working towards professional qualifications.
  • work shadowing.
  • listening to or watching audio/visual material produced.
  • distance learning.
  • writing on law or practice.
  • research.
  • production of a dissertation counting towards a SRA recognised qualification.
  • development of specialist areas of law.
  • preparing and delivering training courses forming part of the process of qualification or post-admission training.

Becket Chambers have recently completed a summer programme of family finance courses. We are in the process of preparing our winter programme of civil litigation courses.

If you would like to attend a Becket Chambers Continuing Competence Course, or have an idea for a course you would like to attend, please contact clerks@becket-chambers.co.uk.