Blog: Solicitor CPD – All Change Please
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.