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21 October 2010 / Laura Shirley
Issue: 7438 / Categories: Features , Training & education , Profession
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Long past its sell-by date?

Laura Shirley reports on how the SRA intends to overhaul the CPD treadmill

For many busy solicitors, CPD can too often be seen as little more than a tick box exercise—something that has to be done to remain eligible to practise. But such an approach fails to realise the potential of CPD to maintain and enhance the competence, performance and ethical conduct of solicitors, and to assist solicitors in progressing their careers.

The current compulsory scheme was introduced in 1985 and only minor amendments have been made since its introduction. The main benefit of the scheme has always been its flexibility:

  • Only 25% of the requirement must be met through participation in accredited courses.
  • The remainder may be met through a wide range of other activities including writing articles, participating in informal mentoring sessions, research relating to legal topics, and watching DVDs or webcasts.

Other than the mandatory management course that solicitors attend within the first three years following admission, and specific requirements for higher court advocates, we do not specify

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MOVERS & SHAKERS

Jurit LLP—Caroline Williams

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Private wealth and tax team welcomes cross-border specialist as consultant

HFW—Simon Petch

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Freeths—Richard Lockhart

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Infrastructure specialist joins as partner in Glasgow office

NEWS
Talk of a reserved ‘Welsh seat’ on the Supreme Court is misplaced. In NLJ this week, Professor Graham Zellick KC explains that the Constitutional Reform Act treats ‘England and Wales’ as one jurisdiction, with no statutory Welsh slot
The government’s plan to curb jury trials has sparked ‘jury furore’. Writing in NLJ this week, David Locke, partner at Hill Dickinson, says the rationale is ‘grossly inadequate’
A year after the $1.5bn Bybit heist, crypto fraud is booming—but so is recovery. Writing in NLJ this week, Neil Holloway, founder and CEO of M2 Recovery, warns that scams hit at least $14bn in 2025, fuelled by ‘pig butchering’ cons and AI deepfakes
After Woodcock confirmed no general duty to warn, debate turns to the criminal law. Writing in NLJ this week, Charles Davey of The Barrister Group urges revival of misprision or a modern equivalent
Family courts are tightening control of expert evidence. Writing in NLJ this week, Dr Chris Pamplin says there is ‘no automatic right’ to call experts; attendance must be ‘necessary in the interests of justice’ under FPR Pt 25
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