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02 April 2009 / Daniella Lipszyc
Issue: 7363 / Categories: Features , Legal services , Training & education , Profession
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Worth its weight in gold

Daniella Lipszyc advocates becoming involved in the lucrative PPI sector

Tick—another box is crossed off and one more hour of continuing professional development (CPD) is racked up. In the UK, all solicitors who work more than 32 hours per week are required to undertake a minimum of 16 hours of CPD per year. As part of this requirement, at least 25% must consist of participation on accredited training courses. As such, many solicitors view it as a necessary evil—just one more thing that needs to be ticked off the list each year.

More than a means to an end

In reality, CPD can mean far more than just a means to an end. As many conventional revenue streams dry up, it's increasingly important for professionals to be aware of alternative, and potential lucrative, sectors. It's time to throw away the “tick box” mentality and start to sift through the array of CPD training courses in a more strategic approach—25% participation could result in business development and ultimately survival.

One area that

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Freeths—Rachel Crosier

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NEWS
Refusing ADR is risky—but not always fatal. Writing in NLJ this week, Masood Ahmed and Sanjay Dave Singh of the University of Leicester analyse Assensus Ltd v Wirsol Energy Ltd: despite repeated invitations to mediate, the defendant stood firm, made a £100,000 Part 36 offer and was ultimately ‘wholly vindicated’ at trial
The Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 transformed criminal justice. Writing in NLJ this week, Ed Cape of UWE and Matthew Hardcastle and Sandra Paul of Kingsley Napley trace its ‘seismic impact’
Operational resilience is no longer optional. Writing in NLJ this week, Emma Radmore and Michael Lewis of Womble Bond Dickinson explain how UK regulators expect firms to identify ‘important business services’ that could cause ‘intolerable levels of harm’ if disrupted
Criminal juries may be convicting—or acquitting—on a misunderstanding. Writing in NLJ this week Paul McKeown, Adrian Keane and Sally Stares of The City Law School and LSE report troubling survey findings on the meaning of ‘sure’
The Serious Fraud Office (SFO) has narrowly preserved a key weapon in its anti-corruption arsenal. In this week's NLJ, Jonathan Fisher KC of Red Lion Chambers examines Guralp Systems Ltd v SFO, in which the High Court ruled that a deferred prosecution agreement (DPA) remained in force despite the company’s failure to disgorge £2m by the stated deadline
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