Continuing Professional Development Rules

Question 1

What is CPD?

Answer 1

rQ130.2

Continuing Professional Development is work undertaken over and above the normal commitments of a barrister with a view to developing the barrister’s SKILLS, KNOWLEDGE and PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS in areas relevant to their present or proposed area of practice in order to keep the barrister up to date and maintain the highest standards of professional practice.

Question 2

How many hours of CDP must you do as a new practitioner?

Answer 2

rQ132

New Practitioner Programme

(a) Any barrister who starts practice on or after 1 October 2001 MUST during the first 3 calendar years in which the barrister holds a practising certificate after any pupillage year COMPLETE A MINIMUM OF 45 HOURS CPD.
(i) A calendar year begins on 1 January.
(ii) Example: If Dharma complete her pupillage on 1st September 2018 she will begin her New Practitioner Programme on 1st January 2019. She will therefore need to complete the 45 hours CPD by 31st December 2022.

Question 3

What are the CDP rules for an established practitioner?

Answer 3

rQ133

Any barrister who has completed the New Practitioner Programme and who holds a practising certificate MUST UNDERTAKE CPD IN EACH CALENDAR YEAR.

rQ134

An EPP barrister MUST:

(i) PREPARE a written CPD PLAN, setting out learning objectives and the types of CPD the barrister proposes to undertake;
(ii) KEEP a written record of the CPD activities undertaken;
(iii) KEEP a written record in the CPD plan of:
(1) The barrister’s reflection on the CPD he or she has undertaken;
(2) Any variation in the barrister’s planned CPD activities; and
(3) The barrister’s assessment of his or her future learning objectives.
(iv) RETAIN a record of the CPD plan and completed CPD activities for 3 years.
(v) SUBMIT to the BSB an annual DECLARATION OF COMPLETION of CPD.

Question 4

How do you know what good practice looks like?

Answer 4

gQ3 and 4

Both NPP and EPP barristers should have regard to the CPD Guidance issues by the BSB which provides a structure that would represent good practice for most barristers when considering their CPD requirements.

Question 5

EPP Barristers responsibility is….

Answer 5

gC4

For EPP barristers there is NO MINIMUM number of CPD hours which must be completed in each calendar year.

It is the responsibility of the individual barrister to determine the CPD activities which will be undertaken in order to meet the requirements of CPD.

Question 6

What will the BSB do re CPD?

Answer 6

gQ4

The BSB will ASSESS and MONITOR compliance with CPD

Question 7

Can the BSB see your records?

Answer 7

rQ135

Upon request by the BSB a barrister MUST produced his or her CPD plan and record of CPD activities for assessment.