CPD Points Requirements for Lawyers

The mandatory continuing professional development (CPD) requirements vary between each State and Territory.  Click on the links below to find out more about the rules in your jurisdiction:

• Australian Capital Territory
• New South Wales
• Northern Territory
• South Australia
• Queensland
• Victoria
• Western Australia

Australian Capital Territory

Starting from 1 July 2010, all practitioners who hold a current ACT practising certificate must complete mandatory continuing professional development (CPD).

In the first CPD year (1 July 2010 – 31 March 2011) practitioners must earn 7 CPD units, and in all subsequent CPD years (1 April – 31 March) practitioners must earn 10 CPD units.

Practitioners must earn a minimum of one unit from each of the following three mandatory core areas:

• Practical Legal Ethics;
• Practice Management and Business Skills; and
• Professional Skills.

Under the ACT Law Society’s CPD scheme, practitioners can earn 1 CPD unit per hour and up to 5 CPD units each year by completing LawCPD’s online legal CPD courses.

Click here to read more detailed information about the CPD requirements for ACT practitioners.

New South Wales

All NSW practitioners must complete mandatory continuing legal education (MCLE), also known as continuing professional development (CPD) each year to maintain their practising certificate.

Practitioners must complete a minimum of 10 legal CLE units each CLE year (1 April – 31 March) and must earn a minimum of one unit from each of the following three mandatory fields:

• Ethics and Professional Responsibility;
• Practice Management and Business Skills; and
• Professional Skills.

Under the Law Society of NSW’s CLE scheme, practitioners can earn 1 legal CLE unit per hour and all 10 legal CLE units each year by completing LawCPD’s online legal CLE courses.

Click here to read more detailed information about the CLE requirements for NSW practitioners.

Northern Territory

All practitioners in the NT (both barristers and solicitors) must complete mandatory continuing professional development (CPD) each year to maintain their practising certificate.

Practitioners must complete a minimum of 12 CPD points each CPD year (1 April – 31 March) and must earn a minimum of 4 CPD points in the compulsory competency area – Legal Practice.

Under the Law Society of the NT’s CPD scheme, practitioners can earn 1 CPD point per hour and up to 6 CPD points each year by completing LawCPD’s online legal CPD courses.

Click here to read more detailed information about the CPD requirements for NT practitioners.

South Australia

Starting from 1 April 2011, all practitioners who hold a current SA practising certificate must complete mandatory continuing professional development (MCPD).

Practitioners must complete a minimum of 10 CPD units each CPD year (1 April – 31 March) and must complete at least one unit from each of the following three required areas each CPD year:

• Practical Legal Ethics;
• Practice Management or Business Skills; and
• Professional Skills.

Under the Legal Practitioners Education and Admission Council Rules 2004 (LPEAC Rules), practitioners can earn 1 CPD unit per hour and up to 5 CPD units each year by completing LawCPD’s online legal CPD courses.

Click here to read more detailed information about the CPD requirements for SA practitioners

Queensland

All Queensland practitioners must complete mandatory continuing professional development (CPD) each year to maintain their practising certificate.

Practitioners must complete a minimum of 10 CPD points each CPD year (1 April – 31 March) and must earn a minimum of one point in each of the following three mandatory core areas:

• Practical Legal Ethics;
• Practice Management and Business Skills; and
• Professional Skills.

Under the Qld Law Society’s CPD scheme, practitioners can earn 1 CPD point per hour and all 10 CPD points each year by completing LawCPD’s online legal CPD courses.

Click here to read more detailed information about the CPD requirements for Qld practitioners.

Victoria

All Victorian practitioners must complete mandatory continuing professional development (CPD) each year to maintain their practising certificate.

Practitioners must complete a minimum of 10 CPD points each CPD year (1 April – 31 March) and must earn a minimum of one point in each of the following four mandatory fields:

• Ethics and Professional Responsibility;
• Professional Skills;
• Substantive Law; and
• Practice Management and Business Skills.

Under the Law Institute of Victoria’s CPD scheme, practitioners can earn 1 CPD point per hour and all 10 CPD points each year by completing LawCPD’s online legal CPD courses.

Click here to read more detailed information about the CPD requirements for Victorian practitioners.

Western Australia

All Western Australian legal practitioners (both barristers and solicitors) must complete mandatory continuing professional (CPD) development each year to maintain their practising certificate.

WA Practitioners must complete a minimum of 10 CPD points each CPD year (1 April – 31 March), including the minimum points in the mandatory competency areas listed below:

Lawyers practicing for less than 5 years

• C1: Legal Skills and Practice – 4 CPD points
• C2: Ethics and Professional Responsibility – 4 CPD points

Lawyers practicing for more than 5 years

• C1: Legal Skills and Practice – 2 CPD points
• C2: Ethics and Professional Responsibility – 2 CPD points

LawCPD has been approved by the Legal Practice Board of WA as a QA Provider of continuing professional development for the WA legal profession.

Under the Legal Practice Board of WA’s CPD scheme, practitioners can earn 1 CPD point per hour and all 10 CPD points each year by completing LawCPD’s online legal CPD courses.  This is because LawCPD’s courses are classified as an interactive activity under the CPD scheme.

Click here to read more detailed information about the CPD requirements for WA practitioners.