SRA Handbook

CPD activities

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Version 4 of the Handbook was published on 21/06/2012. For more information, please click 'History' Above

Regulation 8: CPD activities

8.1

At least 25 per cent of the CPD requirement must be met by participation in accredited courses.

8.2

The remaining 75 per cent of the CPD requirement may be met by further accredited courses or a wide range of other activities.

8.3

The CPD activity should be at an appropriate level and contribute to your general professional skill and knowledge, in order to count towards meeting your CPD requirements.

8.4

Attendance at a course means attendance at the complete course. Part attendance will not count at all towards your CPD requirement.

8.5

The responsibility for meeting the CPD requirements falls on you, not your employer.

Guidance note to 8.1:

(i)

For the purposes of the above regulation, an accredited course means a structured training session, delivered face-to-face or by distance learning, of one hour or more which has written aims and objectives, and is approved specifically for the purpose of compliance with our CPD requirements. Examples include:

(a)

face-to-face sessions including those delivered by an authorised distance learning provider;

(b)

a course wholly provided by distance learning which involves assessment by dissertation and written examination;

(c)

structured coaching sessions, delivered face-to-face, of one hour or more which have written aims and objectives, are documented showing an outcome and are provided by an organisation authorised by us;

(d)

structured mentoring sessions involving professional development, delivered face-to-face, of one hour or more which have written aims and objectives, are documented showing an outcome and are provided by an organisation authorised by us; or

(e)

webinars, i.e. courses broadcast via a website in real time where participants have contact with the speaker(s) and can ask questions and receive answers, and which are provided by an organisation authorised by us.

Guidance note to 8.2:

(i)

For the purposes of regulation 8.2, the following will be deemed to be activities:

(a)

participation in non-accredited courses;

(A)

preparing, delivering and/or attending courses, which are of particular relevance and benefit to an individual's area of work which last more than 30 minutes;

(B)

actual time may be claimed.

(b)

coaching and mentoring sessions of less than one hour;

(A)

structured coaching sessions and structured mentoring sessions involving professional development, delivered face-to-face lasting between 30 minutes and one hour which have written aims and objectives, are documented showing an outcome and are provided by an organisation authorised by us;

(B)

actual time may be claimed.

(c)

coaching and mentoring sessions delivered from a distance;

(A)

structured coaching sessions or structured mentoring sessions involving professional development, delivered from a distance (e.g. by webinars) of 30 minutes or more which have written aims and objectives, are documented showing an outcome and are provided by an organisation authorised by us;

(B)

actual time may be claimed.

(d)

writing on law or practice 

(A)

for example law books, journals, publications for clients, client's own publications, newspapers and magazines (whether legal publications or not), on the Internet;

(B)

topics may include, for example, law practice, issues arising from transactions, clients, markets, industries, products;

(C)

actual time may be claimed.

(e)

work shadowing;

(A)

participation in structured work shadowing schemes with clear aims and objectives and requiring feedback or reflection on the activity;

(B)

actual time may be claimed.

(f)

research;

(A)

research which relates to legal topics or has relevance to the practice/organisation which results in some form of written document, precedent, memorandum, questionnaire/survey etc;

(B)

actual time may be claimed.

(g)

production of a dissertation;

(A)

study for or production of a dissertation counting towards a qualification recognised by us;

(B)

actual time may be claimed.

(h)

watching DVDs, webinars, webcasts, podcasts, television broadcasts or videotapes and/or listening to audio podcasts, radio broadcasts or audio tapes offered by authorised CPD course providers or authorised distance learning providers;

(A)

actual time may be claimed.

(i)

distance learning courses where there is provision for the answering of enquiries or for discussion;

(A)

actual time may be claimed.

(j)

preparation and delivery of training courses forming part of the process of qualification or post admission training;

(A)

actual time may be claimed.

(k)

work towards the Qualification Credit Framework (QCF) awards relating to assessment, verification and/or quality assurance of competence-based assessment models (such as, for example, National Vocational Qualifications);

(A)

actual time spent building a portfolio of evidence and/or attending lectures, workshops, etc may be claimed.

(l)

participating in the development of specialist areas of law and practice by attending meetings of specialist committees and/or working parties of relevant professional or other competent bodies charged with such work;

(A)

actual time spent at meetings may be claimed.

(m)

work towards the achievement of an National Vocational Qualifications in any business-related area and at any level;

(A)

actual time spent building a portfolio of evidence and/or attending lectures, workshops, etc may be claimed.

(n)

study towards professional qualifications;

(A)

examination must be taken to claim time for study and examination itself;

(o)

actual time spent in study and examination may be claimed.