New guidance and a template has been published to help barristers of more than three years’ standing comply with the new CPD scheme, due to start on 1 January 2017.
The Bar Standards Board (BSB) has developed the guidance after a formal consultation process with input from barristers at a series of workshops. The template will help them set their objectives, structure their CPD plans and demonstrate how to record their reflections.
As of 1 January, the CPD rules change. Instead of a mandatory 12 hours’ CPD per year, barristers will need to plan their own CPD schedules.
They will need to: prepare a written CPD plan setting out their learning objectives and proposed activities; keep a written record of the past three years’ CPD activities; reflect on these activities to assess whether they have met their objectives; and declare annually to the BSB that they have completed their CPD.
Vanessa Davies, BSB director general, said: “I was very pleased to see many barristers eager to understand their new CPD requirements at our recent workshops around the country.
“After a thorough consultation process, which included a pilot scheme during 2015 with 76 barristers, we are looking forward to the new regime starting on 1 January. The guidance and template have been designed to help barristers to comply with the new rules.
“The new approach to CPD should give the public confidence that barristers are committed to developing their knowledge and skills. We believe that this will help to ensure that clients continue to receive the high standard of service that they can expect from barristers.”
