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:

1. One should assume responsibility for his/her own development, analyzing his/her own training and development needs.
2. 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.
3. One should record all training and development activities in his/her individual training record.

Download CPD documentation
Continuing professional development: Guide to the Law Society CPD scheme (PDF 117K)
CPD requirements (PDF 40K)
CPD information for part-time solicitors (PDF 17K)
CPD training record – blank form (PDF 16K)
CPD-requirement waivers (PDF 14K)
Summary guidelines for suspension of CPD requirements (PDF 14K)
Complete guidelines for suspension of CPD requirements (PDF 33K)

For Further Information
Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA), Finance Department, Ipsley Court,Berrington Close, RedditchB98 0TD or DX 19114 RedditchUnited Kingdom PHONE: 0044 (0) 1527 504450 E MAIL: contactcentre@sra.org.ukOr Visit www.sra.org.uk