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Barristers will no longer be required to do a mandatory 12 hours’ continuing professional development (CPD) a year, after new rules came into effect.
The Bar Standards Board’s (BSB) CPD accreditation scheme was scrapped on 31 December and the new regime introduced on 1 January 2017.
Barristers will now be required to follow four stages to comply. They will have to prepare a written CPD plan, setting out their objectives and review it during the year, keep a written record of their CPD activities, reflect on their planned and completed CPD activities and report annually to the BSB that they have completed it.
The CPD arrangements for those in their first three years of practice, who are on the New Practitioners Programme, have not changed. Guidance and a template to help barristers to set their objectives, structure their CPD and demonstrate how to record their reflections, are on the BSB website.
In a letter sent to all barristers, the BSB’s Director General, Dr Vanessa Davies, said: ‘Our focus will not be on disciplinary action, but on helping you to comply.
‘We will monitor and assess this via spot-checking barristers’ CPD records but we will reserve referral to our Professional Conduct Department for persistent non-compliance or non-cooperation.’
Designed in consultation with barristers, Davies said the new scheme is designed to be ‘as straightforward as possible’ and give barristers the control and flexibility to focus on the learning and development needed in order to practise.
Barristers will no longer be required to do a mandatory 12 hours’ continuing professional development (CPD) a year, after new rules came into effect.
The Bar Standards Board’s (BSB) CPD accreditation scheme was scrapped on 31 December and the new regime introduced on 1 January 2017.
Barristers will now be required to follow four stages to comply. They will have to prepare a written CPD plan, setting out their objectives and review it during the year, keep a written record of their CPD activities, reflect on their planned and completed CPD activities and report annually to the BSB that they have completed it.
The CPD arrangements for those in their first three years of practice, who are on the New Practitioners Programme, have not changed. Guidance and a template to help barristers to set their objectives, structure their CPD and demonstrate how to record their reflections, are on the BSB website.
In a letter sent to all barristers, the BSB’s Director General, Dr Vanessa Davies, said: ‘Our focus will not be on disciplinary action, but on helping you to comply.
‘We will monitor and assess this via spot-checking barristers’ CPD records but we will reserve referral to our Professional Conduct Department for persistent non-compliance or non-cooperation.’
Designed in consultation with barristers, Davies said the new scheme is designed to be ‘as straightforward as possible’ and give barristers the control and flexibility to focus on the learning and development needed in order to practise.
Far-ranging month for the Chair of the Bar
Endometriosis Awareness North, a charity raising awareness of endometriosis and supporting those affected across the North of England, has received a £500 boost from AlphaBiolabs via the company’s Giving Back initiative
Marie Law, Director of Toxicology at AlphaBiolabs, examines the most recent data on alcohol misuse in the UK, and the implications for alcohol testing in family proceedings
Clement Cowley, Partner at The Penny Group, explains how tailored financial planning can help barristers take control of their finances and plan with confidence
Marie Law, Director of Toxicology at AlphaBiolabs
A £500 donation from AlphaBiolabs has been made to the leading UK charity tackling international parental child abduction and the movement of children across international borders
Seeing the full picture – Baljit Ubhey OBE outlines the CPS action plan to tackle violence against women and girls, offering insights directly relevant to courtroom practice
Heritage as an anchor and a compass, finding our common humanity and embracing the power of the outsider – Melina Antoniadis’s lessons learnt
Is the Judicial Conduct Investigations Office process fit for purpose? Women barristers’ experiences of bullying are not being reported or, if they are, they are not making it through the system, says Tana Adkin KC
Review by Daniel Barnett
Chair of the Bar reports back
