The start of the new Continuing Professional Development (CPD) year in April, and the beginning of the new practising year in July, bring with them the opportunity to reflect on the past year and look ahead to the coming year’s growth through learning.
A key part of the CPD process is the CPD plan and record (CPDPR). Designed to be a forward-thinking exercise, the preparation of a CPDPR provides a framework for planning the year and setting meaningful professional development goals.
The CPD Rules don’t specify the format for a CPDPR, just that it must be written and include:
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a description of your learning needs,
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a description of the proposed actions to meet the identified learning needs,
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details of the CPD activities you have participated in, including a record of the hours, a reflection and verification documentation for each activity, and
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a statement of the total number of CPD hours required.
We recently updated the CPDPR resources online. In the CPD toolkit, you’ll find example CPDPRs for a lawyer in general practice, an in-house lawyer and a barrister, as well as an updated CPDPR Excel template.
There are two key aspects to planning your CPD: identifying your learning needs and the proposed actions you might take to meet these.
Learning needs
Learning needs are specific to each individual lawyer and are not limited to improving legal knowledge alone. They can also relate to the broader knowledge and skills necessary for you to maintain your competence, such as communication, adaptability, and cultural and emotional intelligence.
To help identify learning needs for the year, you may wish to reflect on:
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your previous year’s CPDPR,
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your strengths and weakness and your future professional goals,
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changes in the law, or changes in your role, and
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pertinent topics – for example: cybersecurity, AI, or diversity and inclusion.
Your learning needs will reflect your practice, your knowledge and skill base, your career goals and aspirations, and your areas of interest.
Proposed actions
The purpose of the proposed actions section of a CPDPR is for you to consider how you might best meet your learning need. Proposed actions should reflect your learning style and the best way you might go about learning what you are wanting to learn. For example, if you are new to a particular area of practice, you might wish to attend a seminar or conference on the topic to immerse yourself in the new content and meet other lawyers in that field. Or if you have identified improving your writing style as a learning need, you may wish to engage in a writing workshop for one-to-one feedback on your writing.
Proposed actions are not binding, plans and learning needs may evolve throughout the year. However, it is still important for you to engage with a forward-thinking plan early in the year and to identify suitable activities for your learning needs.
The process of preparing a CPDPR provides an opportunity for you to take ownership of and plan for your professional growth. By identifying meaningful learning needs and setting clear actions to meet these, you can ensure your development aligns with both your personal goals and the evolving demands of practice. We encourage you to reflect on your CPD planning today to make the most of the year ahead.