Frequently asked questions (FAQs) relating to Continuing Professional Development (CPD) and the events LPLC runs.
CPD FAQ
The CPD year runs from 1 April to 31 March.
You need a minimum of 10 CPD units in each CPD year.
Yes - there are compulsory units you need to attain every year, as stated in Rule 6. CPD obligations - as follows:
6.1 Unless exempted in whole or in part by the designated local regulatory authority under rule 16 (Exemptions), or unless a pro rata calculation applies under rule 10 (Pro rata calculations), a solicitor must complete 10 CPD units in each CPD year including at least one CPD unit in each of the following fields:
6.1.1 ethics and professional responsibility;
6.1.2 practice management and business skills;
6.1.3 professional skills;
6.1.4 substantive law.
6.2 Where a part exemption under Rule 16 (Exemptions) or a pro rata calculation under Rule 10 (Pro rata calculations) applies the compulsory fields must be completed as part of the remaining CPD units.
There are four CPD fields under the rules. Here is a list with their abbreviations:
- Ethics and professional responsibility (EPR).
- Practice management and business skills (PM).
- Professional skills (PS).
- Substantive law (SL).
LPLC is primarily focussed on providing risk management seminars, however our seminars can cover any of the four fields set out in Rule 6. CPD obligations. The fields are:
- ethics and professional responsibility
- practice management and business skills
- professional skills
- substantive law.
To read about the LPLC events available and the fields covered refer to the LPLC training calendar.
Yes - you are required to maintain your own record of your CPD activities and also evidence in support of the CPD activities undertaken as stated in Rule 12. Record keeping - which reads as follows:
12.1 A solicitor must maintain for each CPD year:
12.1.1 a record of his or her engagement in CPD activities; and
12.1.2 evidence in support of the CPD activities undertaken.
12.2 A solicitor must retain the information referred to in Rule 12.1.1 and the evidence in support referred to in Rule 12.1.2 for at least three years after the end of the CPD year to which the CPD record and evidence in support relate.
Yes. A CPD activity relevantly includes a seminar, workshop and web-based program. Refer to rule 8.1.1 of the Legal Profession Uniform Continuing Professional Development (Solicitors) Rules 2015. The Legal Services Commissioner has stated that there is no cap on CPD activity which is online interactive audio/visual which offers participants the opportunity to interact, or requires interaction with, CPD material. For more information about CPD see the Victorian Legal Services Commissioner website.
Yes. A CPD activity includes private study of audio/visual material. Refer to rule 8.1.1 of the Legal Profession Uniform Continuing Professional Development (Solicitors) Rules 2015. The Legal Services Commissioner has stated that there is a cap of 5 hours for watching a recorded seminar, lecture or presentation. For more information about CPD see the Victorian Legal Services Commissioner website.
LPLC does not track your individual attendance. LPLC does have a record of who registered for an event and registrants are sent a confirmation email as well as a reminder email. LPLC cannot confirm whether you attended the whole of the session.
You are required to maintain your own record of your CPD activities and also evidence in support of the CPD activities undertaken as stated in Rule 12. Record keeping - which reads as follows:
12.1 A solicitor must maintain for each CPD year:
12.1.1 a record of his or her engagement in CPD activities; and
12.1.2 evidence in support of the CPD activities undertaken.
12.2 A solicitor must retain the information referred to in rule 12.1.1 and the evidence in support referred to in rule 12.1.2 for at least three years after the end of the CPD year to which the CPD record and evidence in support relate.
No. LPLC does not issue a certificate of attendance for CPD purposes. LPLC does have a record of who registered for an event and registrants are sent a confirmation email as well as a reminder email. LPLC cannot confirm whether you attended the whole of the session.
You are required to maintain your own record of your CPD activities and also evidence in support of the CPD activities undertaken as stated in Rule 12. Record keeping which reads as follows:
12.1 A solicitor must maintain for each CPD year:
12.1.1 a record of his or her engagement in CPD activities; and
12.1.2 evidence in support of the CPD activities undertaken.
12.2 A solicitor must retain the information referred to in Rule 12.1.1 and the evidence in support referred to in Rule 12.1.2 for at least three years after the end of the CPD year to which the CPD record and evidence in support relate.
Rule 14. Verification of CPD activities explains the proof you need to comply with the Rules. It reads:
14.1 The designated local regulatory authority may at any time require a solicitor to verify within 21 days whether he or she has complied with these Rules by:
14.1.1 producing to the designated local regulatory authority:
14.1.1.1 any records required to be kept by the solicitor under these Rules; and
14.1.1.2 any other evidence in the solicitor’s possession or control that are relevant to the solicitor’s compliance with these Rules; and
14.1.2 giving the designated local regulatory authority:
14.1.2.1 a statement of the solicitor’s reasons for claiming that any activities undertaken by the solicitor satisfy any requirement for CPD activities under these Rules; and
14.1.2.2 particulars of any exemption granted by the designated local regulatory authority under these Rules.
14.2 A requirement of the designated local regulatory authority under this rule may be given to a solicitor only in relation to the current CPD year or any of the three previous CPD years.
No - to clarify the CPD content, format and units to attain the required 10 CPD units refer to following rules:
- CPD content
- CPD format
- CPD units.
Click here to read the rules in full.
LPLC currently delivers its training events and seminars via online webinar presentations as well as face to face events. Go to our Events and Education page to browse our recorded webinars, risk management event recordings, upcoming events and more.
As stated in Rules 8.2 and 9.2.4, watching a pre-recorded seminar can be counted towards CPD units, however a maximum of five units may be claimed this way in any one CPD year. Videos and webinars covering various topics are available on this website and can be filtered by area of law.
Click here to read the rules in full.
As stated in Rules 8.2 and 9.2.4, watching a pre-recorded seminar can be counted towards CPD units, however a maximum of five units may be claimed this way in any one CPD year.
Click here to read the rules in full.
No – we have limited the number of attendees at our events to facilitate discussion and ensure participants gain maximum benefit from the information provided.
