Self Assessment & CPD
On our reading of the rules all our legal conferences attract CPD points, not necessarily in every strand but we aim to do at least one ethics point, one practice skills point and one mediation point at each legal conference. Thousands of barristers and solicitors over the years have obtained a portion of their CPD points at our legal conferences. Each legal conference has a minimum of 16 hours of academic content per 7-day conference, across the span of 4 days. As such delegates and speakers may choose the sessions that are most relevant to their practice and professional development. After each legal conference you will be provided with a Certificate of Attendance and the academic agenda for your CPD records. Please see information below specific to each Australian Law Society (excluding WA) and information for Barristers and Solicitors from New Zealand.
Barristers
QLD Bar Association
According to our reading of the Bar Association of Queensland's 'Administration Rules', Queensland Barristers must earn 10 legal CPD points annually and one CPD point is earned for each completed hour of engagement in a CPD activity. (Calendar year runs from April until the end of March). We aim to cover at least one topic on 'Ethics and Professional Responsibility' and 'Substantive Law, Practice and Procedure and Evidence'. .Some legal conferences include topics on 'Practice Management and 'Barrister Skills'. Speakers can claim up to 3CPD per hour for their presentation.
NSW Bar Association
According to our reading of the 'Legal Profession Uniform Continuing Professional Development (Barristers) Rules 2015 provided by the New South Wales Bar Association, one CPD point is earned for each completed hour of engagement in a CPD activity. We aim to cover at least one topic on 'Ethics and Professional Responsibility' and 'Substantive Law, Practice and Procedure and Evidence'. Some legal conferences include topics on 'Practice Management and 'Barrister Skills'.
ACT Bar Association
According to our reading of ACT Bar Association's Continuing Professional Development Program Protocol, ACT Barristers must earn 10 legal CPD points annually and one CPD point is earned for each completed hour of engagement in a CPD activity (Calendar year runs from April until the end of March). We aim to cover at least one topic on 'Ethics and Professional Responsibility' and 'Substantive Law, Practice and Procedure and Evidence'. Some conferences include topics on 'Practice Management and 'Barrister Skills'. In addition to this, Speakers may also claim up one point per hour of preparation (maximum of 2 points).
Victorian Bar Association
According to our reading of 'The Victorian Bar Continuing Professional Development Policy 2016', Victorian Barristers must earn 10 legal CPD points annually and one CPD point is earned for each completed hour of engagement in a CPD activity (Calendar year runs from April until the end of March). We aim to cover at least one topic on 'Ethics and Professional Responsibility' and 'Substantive Law, Practice and Procedure and Evidence'. Some conferences include topics on 'Practice Management and 'Barrister Skills'. In addition to this, Speakers may also claim up one point per hour of preparation (maximum of 2 points).
Solicitors
QLD Law Society
Based on our reading of Queensland Law Society's Guidelines on CPD compliance for Queensland solicitors most sessions attract 1 CPD point per hour. In addition to this, each legal conference covers content under the mandatory core areas of 'Practical Legal Ethics' and 'Professional Skills' and some conferences have content on 'Practice Management and Business Skills'. Each conference has a minimum of 16 hours of academic content, as such delegates and speakers may choose the sessions that are most relevant to their practice and professional development.
The Law Society of NSW
Based on our reading of the Law Society of New South Wales' Legal Profession Uniform Continuing Professional Development (Solicitors) Rules 2015 all our legal conferences attract CLE points at a rate of 1 CLE point per hour. We aim to cover at least one topic on each of the following compulsory fields 'Ethics and Professional Responsibility', 'Professional Skills' and 'Substantive Law'. Some legal conferences include topics on 'Practice Management and Business skills'. Each legal conference has a minimum of 16 hours of academic content, as such delegates and speakers may choose the sessions that are most relevant to their practice and professional development.
ACT Law Society
Based on our reading of the ACT Law Society's A continuing professional development scheme for Canberra’s legal practitioners all our conferences attract CPD points at a rate of 1 CPD point per hour. We aim to cover at least one topic on each of the following compulsory fields 'Legal Ethics and Professional Responsibility', 'Professional Skills' and 'Substantive Law and Procedural Law'. Some legal conferences include topics on 'Practice Management and Business skills'. Each conference has a minimum of 16 hours of academic content, as such delegates and speakers may choose the sessions that are most relevant to their practice and professional development.
Victorian Law Institute
Based on our reading of the Victorian Law Institute's Legal Profession Uniform Continuing Professional Development (Solicitors) Rules 2015 all our conferences attract CPD points at a rate of 1 CPD point per hour. We aim to cover at least one topic on each of the following compulsory fields 'Ethics and Professional Responsibility', 'Professional Skills' and 'Substantive Law'. Some conference include topics on 'Practice Management and Business skills'. Each conference has a minimum of 16 hours of academic content, as such delegates and speakers may choose the sessions that are most relevant to their practice and professional development.
Other States
WA Legal Practice Board
We are an approved QA provider for the WA Legal Practice Board, so that all our legal conferences attract points for WA solicitors & barristers (to a limit of 6 CPD points per legal conference). After each legal conference, you will be provided with a Certificate of Attendance and the academic agenda for your CPD records. Of the 4 core competency areas, we cover Substantive Law and at least one of the remaining three (Ethics and Professional Responsibility, Practice Management and Professional Skills).
Law Society SA
Based on our reading of the Mandatory Continuing Professional Development rules all our legal conferences attract one point per hour and we aim to cover at least one topic of the mandatory activities of: “practical legal ethics”, “practice management or business skills” and “professional skills”.
Law Society NT
Based on our reading of the Law Society NT's CPD Guide for Practitioners, all our legal conferences attract a rate of 0.5 CPD points per 30 minutes. We aim to cover at least one topic on each of the following compulsory fields 'Professional ethics and Responsibility' and 'Professional Skills in Legal Practice'. Some conferences include topics on 'Practice Management and Business Skills'.
National Mediator Accreditation System (NMAS)
There will be at least one session on mediation at each conference for the purpose of the CPD regime in the NMAS.
International
Hong Kong Law Society & International Law Societies
The Hong Kong Law Society has approved our legal conferences on a case by case basis which gives lawyers from many parts of the USA continuing education points via reciprocal arrangements.
New Zealand Lawyers and Barristers
On our reading of the New Zealand Lawyers and Conveyancers Act (Lawyers: Ongoing Legal Education—Continuing Professional Development) Rules 2013,our legal conferences meet those rules’ CPD requirements on the basis of a legal practitioner applying attendance at each session of the legal conference in accordance with that practitioner’s Continuing Professional Development Plan and Record (CPDPR) [Rules 4, 5 6 & 7]
Migration Law CPD
Legislation is before the federal Parliament lifting the restriction on lawyers practicing in non-court migration matters (ie visas, visa issues and AAT reviews). Other priorities have delayed implementation of these laws but they will eventually be passed in the current Parliamentary term.
Lorenzo Boccabella, Lawyer and migration law specialist also conducts migration law CPD workshops which similarly attract legal CPD/CLE points across the various legal jurisdictions.
It is a whole new field of law and potentially a new set of clients. However it is not an area one can easily parachute into. Topics include
The visa system
Employer sponsorship
Specific visas such as partner visas, skilled visas and work visas
Compliance issues with Immigration
Merit review to the Administrative Appeals
Judicial review in the federal court system plus appeals to the High Court
All topics earn CPD points in substantive law.
To prepare yourself in this new field of law, the workshops set out at www.cpemigration.com.au will give you the knowledge and skills you will need.
Further questions?
If you have any further questions regarding CPD & Accreditation please email [email protected].
