Article

17 October 05

CPD: the changes

The new administrative procedure for recording CPD hours


As intimated in the July Journal, as part of the ongoing review of CPD administrative procedures, CPD record cards will no longer be issued. Instead an online version will be available for downloading from the Society’s website. For those without web access the record card is reprinted in the October 2005 issue of The Journal. If you wish you may copy this page for future use.

The 2005-06 practising certificate application form will include a CPD declaration, requesting confirmation of compliance – in effect self-certification. As a result there is now no need to return the 2004-05 record cards but it’s sensible to retain them as a personal record.

Random monitoring will continue, with the Society carrying out an annual audit of 5% of those who are obliged to complete CPD hours.

The Society’s Competence Committee has conducted a number of reviews of CPD over the years. A motion at this year’s AGM suggested that appraisal of the individual is a more suitable evaluation tool than the current system which may offer little opportunity to assess the real value for attendees.

The Competence Committee will continue to review the evolution of CPD and intends to consult with as many as is possible.

It is crucial to ensure that CPD providers retain records of attendance for two years. If evidence of attendance cannot be provided, the course will not qualify for CPD and you will be required to make up the additional hours.

The CPD regulations, guidelines and record cards are available via  the “For Solicitors” pages on the Society’s website www.lawscot.org.uk. Family law mediators will also find relevant record cards on the site.

If you have any inquiries please contact: records@lawscot.org.uk.

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