Quick Facts:
Barristers' CPD requirements in detail:
The CPD year for barristers runs from the 1st of January to the 31st of December with all returns due by the 31st January in the following year.
The Bar Standards Board states that ‘in order to maintain and enhance the quality of legal services that they offer, barristers need to update and develop specialist areas of knowledge and improve their skills. Furthermore, in the face of increasing competition in the market for legal services, barristers must have sufficient flexibility to adapt to the changing demands of clients, the profession and their own careers. The Bar Standards Board is committed to ensuring that the profession continues to offer legal services of the very highest quality, therefore all practising barristers are required to complete continuing professional development (CPD).’
For established practitioners (barristers who have completed the first three years of practice), a minimum of 12 hours CPD must be completed, of which a minimum of 4 hours must be accredited. For practitioners in the first three years of practice, a minimum of 45 hours of CPD training must be obtained, of which at least 9 hours must be advocacy training and 3 hours must be ethics training.
The three year period begins upon commencement of tenancy, a third six, employed practice or a period of squatting. For full details of the relevant requirements, please refer to the Bar Standards Board’s website