CPD is dead. Long Live CPD! So seems to be the reality of the new 'competence based' CPD regime announced by the SRA. While the new regime doesn't become compulsory until November, the SRA has been encouraging firms to introduce it this month.
We have produced a straightforward guide to what the new CPD regime means for you, along with links to useful resources to help you comply. We also have a range of relevant, practical CPD resources that you can attend in person or view online.
Old & New CPD regimes compared
While there is a risk that some solicitors may just view the removal of a compulsory minimum-hours requirement as justification for winding down in-house training, or cutting expenditure of time and money on external courses, properly implemented, the new regime should encourage a move away from a 'tick box' CPD culture to one based on relevance and effective learning.
| Old CPD Regime | New CPD Regime |
|---|---|
| 16 hours minimum per annum | No minimum or maximum hours |
| Accredited training requirement | No accredited training requirement |
| Short periods of study don't qualify for CPD points | All relevant study counts |
| No measurement of relevance | Link to training & development goals |
| Informal study not adequately recognised | Ongoing recording requiring reflection on learning points |
As training provider Hannah Mackinlay comments in her incicive blog on the topic "you need to get into a routine of doing this 'reflection, planning and research' AND RECORDING THAT YOU DID IT". This is probably the best reason to adopt early, and get accustomed to the new approach before it becomes compulsory.
Structuring a training programme
Law firm managers and individual staff members both need to actively plan training needs. This plan should also be responsive, and be reviewed half-yearly as a minimum.
Many law firms are excellent at ensuring that fee-earners receive regular training on legal updates, but fail to recognise the importance of substantive training for support-staff. There is also a tendency to leave soft-skill training to self development, rather than structured training.
Our latest CPD and Training Guidance (which you can download - see the panel on the right) will help you and your staff create training programmes that meet the new SRA requirements.
Recording your training
From November, you will also need to ensure that solicitors in your firm are recording each element of their ongoing training by way of a CPD log.
For firms that do not already have a suitable training log, we have produced a simple template, which Lockton clients can log-in to download (if you don't have a log in, contact us for a copy).
Relevant training resources from Lockton
In addition to our upcoming training events we also have a growing back-catalogue of webinars (also accessible on our website, covering Environmental due diligence, Property claims, and Information Security).
Clients can also access our range of resources by logging into our secure portal- which includes guidance on topics such as:
- Conflicts of Interest (includes in-house workshop materials);
- Cloud provider due diligence;
- Practical Risk Mitigation plans for key practice areas;
- Risk Register guidance, and
- Business Continuity Planning
Further Information
For more information on how we can assist you with your training requirements, contact Calum MacLean.