The numbers
The four fields are ethics and professional responsibility; practice management and business skills; professional skills; and substantive law.
| Rule | Amount |
|---|---|
| Units each CPD year | Ten |
| Compulsory fields | At least one unit in each of four |
| Interactive web-based program | 1 unit per hour, no cap |
| Private study of audio or visual material | Capped at 5 units |
| Records and evidence kept | At least 3 years |
| Time to produce records if audited | Twenty one (21) days |
Facts and sources for this part
- NSW solicitors must complete ten CPD units each CPD year, which runs from 1 April to 31 March. [S1] [S2]
- The ten units must include at least one unit in each of four compulsory fields: ethics and professional responsibility; practice management and business skills; professional skills; and substantive law. [S1]
- Web-based programs are uncapped, while private study of audio or visual material is capped at 5 units. [S1]
- A seminar, workshop, lecture, conference, discussion group, multimedia or web-based program earns 1 unit per hour, minus refreshment breaks, with no cap. [S2]
- You must keep a record of your activities and evidence that they were completed for at least 3 years. [S1]
- The Law Society audits solicitors every year and, if you are selected, you must provide your CPD records and evidence within twenty one (21) days of its request. [S1]
Carry-over and renewal
- Up to three units completed between January and March can be carried over, but not double counted.
- Each practising certificate renewal asks you to declare whether you have complied.
- The Law Society audits solicitors every year.
Facts and sources for this part
- Up to three units completed between January and March can be carried over from the previous CPD year, but not double counted. [S1]
- You must declare in each practising certificate renewal application whether you have complied with your CPD obligations. [S1]
- The Law Society audits solicitors every year and, if you are selected, you must provide your CPD records and evidence within twenty one (21) days of its request. [S1]
Online programs and the caps
A seminar, workshop, lecture, conference, discussion group, multimedia or web-based program earns 1 unit per hour, minus refreshment breaks, with no cap. Private study of audio or visual material is passive and capped at 5 units, so a recorded talk watched alone does not go as far as an interactive program with questions and choices.
Facts and sources for this part
- A seminar, workshop, lecture, conference, discussion group, multimedia or web-based program earns 1 unit per hour, minus refreshment breaks, with no cap. [S2]
- Web-based programs are uncapped, while private study of audio or visual material is capped at 5 units. [S1]
- The distinction is interaction: web-based programs offer opportunities to interact with the material, while private study of audio or visual material is passive. [S1]
What to do next
Count your units now rather than in March, and check that each of the four fields has at least one unit. Keep a record of each activity as you finish it. This course is free to study, with a test that explains each answer, and its certificate includes a ready entry for your record.
Facts and sources for this part
- You must keep a record of your activities and evidence that they were completed for at least 3 years. [S1]