CONTINUING PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT (CPD)

GENERAL INFORMATION

Since 1985 the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) has been operating a compulsory Continuing Professional Development scheme (CPD scheme). Over the years, it has evolved into a system guided by the principles of simplicity and flexibility.

Solicitors are encouraged to assume responsibility for their own development by choosing from the wide range of activities that can be pursued in order to meet the yearly CPD requirement.

What is the Continuing Professional Development Scheme?

All solicitors are required by the SRA Training Regulations 1990 to undertake Continuing Professional Development (CPD) activities. The CPD year runs from 1 November to 31 October. All solicitors in legal practice or employment in England and Wales must comply with the requirements of the SRA's Continuing Professional Development scheme (CPD). The requirement for CPD is 16 hours a year i.e. 48 hours in first three year after enrolling as a solicitor.

The CPD scheme is based on the principles of simplicity and flexibility: One should assume responsibility for his/her own development, analyzing his/her own training and development needs. When one knows his/her own training and development needs, he/she can identify the activities within the CPD scheme that are most likely to meet them. One should record all training and development activities in his/her individual training record. For Further Information The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA), Finance Department, Ipsley Court, Berrington Close, Redditch B98 0TD or DX 19114 Redditch U.K. PHONE: +44 (0) 1527 504450  E MAIL: contactcentra@sra.org.uk Or Visit www.sra.org.uk