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 Bodys) 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.

For more information visit www.lawsociety.org.uk