Estate Planning

New Mandatory Continuing Professional Development Requirements

By Hull and Hull LLP

Commencing January 1, 2011, lawyers and paralegals in Ontario must complete at least 12 hours of continuing professional development ('CPD') in eligible educational activities in each calendar year. At least 3 of the 12 hours must be on topics related to ethics, professionalism and/or practice management.

New members in their first two full years of practising law or providing legal services are required to take 12 hours per year of programming that integrates topics related to ethics, professionalism, and practice management for at least 25% of the program. This component must be reasonably connected to the substantive or procedural law content of the program.

All programming must be accredited by the Law Society. There are a variety of activities that may qualify for credit so you can count preparation for and presentation at CPD programs as well as attendance. Activities other than courses must be accredited in advance by LSUC in order to qualify for professionalism credit. Lawyers and paralegals seeking accreditation of activities such as teaching, writing, study groups, or mentoring must complete an Application for Accreditation of Alternate Eligible Educational Activities a minimum of 30 days in advance of the commencement date of the proposed activity. For more information see the LSUC website.

It will be interesting to see the changes in programming and perhaps even the kinds of organizations that will be providing CPD programs with the new requirements. 

If all this talk about continuing education has you ready to come out to mingle with your colleagues and discuss all things estates, Hull & Hull LLP's breakfast series continues on October 14, 2010.    

Sharon Davis 

Full post as published by Toronto Estate Law Blog on October 01, 2010 (boomark / email).