Guidance for continuing competence?

Solicitors have been offered Law Society guidance on the new “Continuing Competence” regime.

The Solicitors Regulation Authority's (SRA) introduced Continuing Competence in April 2015 to replace the existing points-based Continuing Professional Development (CPD) scheme. Under the new scheme, there is no requirement to complete a set number of CPD hours or attend courses. Instead, solicitors must self-declare that they have addressed their ongoing learning needs.

All practitioners must move to the new scheme before 1 November 2016.

The Law Society has launched “Continuing Competence Guidance – FAQs” on its website. Its president, Jonathan Smithers says: “Our members want quick access to the facts and this collection of valuable information will help solicitors adopt and comply with this change in the regulatory regime.”

Mark Solon, chairman of Wilmington Legal, says: “The new world of continuing competence is fast approaching and solicitors need to get up to speed now. I am pleased the Law Society has started to give guidance as the SRA website may be difficult to follow even for lawyers.”