Law Society begins consultation on professional development scheme
The New Zealand Law Society has released a discussion paper on a proposed mandatory Continuing Professional Development (CPD) scheme for all New Zealand lawyers.
Lawyers are being invited to comment on the proposed scheme by 13 April 2012. The discussion paper is available, and comments may be emailed to inquiries@lawsociety.org.nz or mailed to The Executive Director, New Zealand Law Society, PO Box 5041, Wellington 6145.
Under the proposed scheme, all lawyers (both full and part-time) would be required to prepare and update an annual CPD plan and complete, record, document and justify a minimum of 10 hours eligible CPD activities each year.
To be eligible in terms of the proposed CPD scheme, activities would need to be verifiable and must include potential interaction. Non-verifiable self-study would not qualify as an eligible activity but all lawyers would be encouraged to complete and plan for a minimum of 50 hours of such education each year.
Eligible activities could include:
- Participating in or presenting at a wide range of conferences, seminars and training programmes which could be delivered “live”, online or via a video or teleconference. All such programmes must be planned in advance and must have clearly stated learning objectives;
- Lecturing/teaching and preparing for law course at tertiary level;
- Writing law-related books and articles for tertiary or post-tertiary audiences; and
- Preparing formal submissions.
There would be no exemptions, but in exceptional circumstances – such as unexpected illness – lawyers may be permitted to complete any outstanding CPD requirements in the following practice year.
The discussion paper also proposes that there would be no specified activities or topics. Lawyers would be responsible for determining their own learning requirements. There would be no restrictions on potential providers, and providers would not need to be licensed or approved.
To meet the proposed requirements, lawyers would need to submit an annual declaration stating that they had met all CPD requirements. CPD plans, records and documentation would be required to be available for inspection by the Law Society.