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01 August 2014 / Julie Brannan
Issue: 7617 / Categories: Features , Training & education , Profession
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A new take on training

Julie Brannan introduces the new plans for CPD

On 21 May 2014, the board of the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) agreed to introduce a new approach to continuing professional development (CPD). This involves replacing the current requirement for solicitors to undertake 16 hours CPD per year from 1 November 2016 with a new approach that provides freedom and flexibility to firms and individuals to determine the training they need to do to in an a way that suits them.

Our current requirements have many shortcomings; in particular, education and training can be driven by the requirement to meet a regulatory requirement rather than being driven by the education and training needed to deliver competent legal services. Our new approach places competence, competent service delivery and the protection of consumers of legal services at its heart.

Who knows best?

Firms and individuals are best placed to know what training they need to carry out in order to deliver a competent legal service. Approaching education and training differently will benefit entities and individuals.

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MOVERS & SHAKERS

Laytons ETL—Maximilian Kraitt

Laytons ETL—Maximilian Kraitt

Commercial firm strengthens real estate disputes team with associate hire

Switalskis—three appointments

Switalskis—three appointments

Firm appoints three directors to board

Browne Jacobson—seven promotions

Browne Jacobson—seven promotions

Six promoted to partner and one to legal director across UK and Ireland offices

NEWS

From blockbuster judgments to procedural shake-ups, the courts are busy reshaping litigation practice. Writing in NLJ this week, Professor Dominic Regan of City Law School hails the Court of Appeal's 'exquisite judgment’ in Mazur restoring the role of supervised non-qualified staff, and highlights a ‘mammoth’ damages ruling likened to War and Peace, alongside guidance on medical reporting fees, where a pragmatic 25% uplift was imposed

Momentum is building behind proposals to restrict children’s access to social media—but the legal and practical challenges are formidable. In NLJ this week, Nick Smallwood of Mills & Reeve examines global moves, including Australia’s under-16 ban and the UK's consultation
Reforms designed to rebalance landlord-tenant relations may instead penalise leaseholders themselves. In this week's NLJ, Mike Somekh of The Freehold Collective warns that the Leasehold and Freehold Reform Act 2024 risks creating an ‘underclass’ of resident-controlled freehold companies
Timing is everything—and the Court of Appeal has delivered clarity on when proceedings are ‘brought’. In his latest 'Civil way' column for NLJ, Stephen Gold explains that a claim is issued for limitation purposes when the claim form is delivered to the court, even if fees are underpaid
The traditional ‘single, intensive day’ of financial dispute resolution (FDR) may be due for a rethink. Writing in NLJ this week, Rachel Frost-Smith and Lauren Guiler of Birketts propose a ‘split FDR’ model, separating judicial evaluation from negotiation
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