Lawyers are generally selected at random to provide a copy of their plan and record. This year, the audit will also include some lawyers who are new to practice and some lawyers who did not complete their CPD declaration on time. Including lawyers who are new to practice helps identify any misunderstandings about CPD requirements early in a lawyer’s career and enables us to provide support as needed. Including some lawyers who did not complete their CPD declaration on time helps confirm whether the requirements have been met. It means we can clarify the reason for the delay, such as whether lawyers needed to complete further activities after the close of the CPD year or overlooked the declaration. 

You can prepare by making sure your CPD plan and record (CPDPR) is up to date, including evidence relating to your CPD activities undertaken in 2025/26.  

What to expect if you are selected for audit 

If you’re selected for audit, the team will contact you directly and ask you to provide a copy of your CPDPR and any related documents. 

A request for audit materials should not be a cause for concern. It is a standard annual process that applies to part of the profession each year. You’ll have 21 working days to respond.   

It's important to provide your CPDPR when requested and engage with the Law Society respectfully and in a timely manner, to ensure you are meeting CPD obligations and that the integrity of the CPD framework for lawyers is maintained.

The team aims to complete reviews within 10 working days of receiving your materials and will confirm the outcome with you. You may also receive feedback on what is working well and guidance on areas for improvement. If any part of your CPDPR does not fully meet the requirements in the CPD Rules, the team will suggest ways to improve your approach or record-keeping for future compliance. 

The purpose of the audit is to ensure compliance while also providing guidance and support. The team recognises that CPD plans and records will look different for each lawyer and approaches reviews with this in mind. 

You should have your CPDPR readily accessible, as completing your CPD declaration confirms that you have completed the required hours and maintained a CPDPR. The Rules also require you to retain your CPDPR for three years, so you should take a copy with you when you leave a role. 

There is an Excel CPDPR template and example CPDPRs available on the website, and further information about audits and the audit process in our FAQs.