New Zealand Law Society - First CPD year ends 31 March - Eight weeks to go

First CPD year ends 31 March - Eight weeks to go

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In just eight weeks, all Continuing Professional Development (CPD) declarations will be due. Declarations are made online in the Law Society register. All lawyers with outstanding declarations will be sent a personalised email with a link to the Law Society Lawyer Login.

Declarations can be made at any time. If your CPD plan and record (CPDPR) is up to date and looks forward to the end of the CPD year, and you have completed your required hours, go to the Law Society website, log in and make your declaration. You will need your lawyer ID and password. You do not need to send in your CPDPR.

The CPD requirements

You need to:

  • identify your own learning needs and maintain a CPD plan and record (CPDPR); and
  • complete and reflect on 10 hours of CPD activities in line with your learning needs and action plan.

CPDPR

A CPDPR includes:

  • learning needs;
  • an action plan;
  • an activities record;
  • reflections;
  • outcomes for you; and
  • future learning needs; and
  • documentation verifying attendance.

CPD Activities

The requirements are descriptive, not prescriptive. You choose, but activities must:

  • be verifiable;
  • provide for interaction/feedback;
  • be planned and structured with a stated purpose and outcomes;
  • be related to your identified learning requirements; and
  • not be part of your day-to-day work.

CPD activities are not limited to courses, seminars, conferences, and training programmes but could include:

  • coaching, study groups;
  • interactive distance learning programmes;
  • lecturing, teaching, instructing – teachers/instructors may include reasonable preparation;
  • writing law-related books/articles; and
  • preparing and presenting certain submissions.

You can look at any topic which you can demonstrate in your CPD plan may assist you to carry out your work as a lawyer. For example:

  • knowledge of
    • the law;
    • other relevant disciplines; and
    • law and procedures in other countries;
  • legal skills;
  • personal management skills;
  • practice management skills; and
  • ethics, professionalism and client care.

Flexibility is the key, but activities and topics must fit each lawyer’s individual learning needs. One size does not fit all.

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