How to Obtain CPD Credit through Training

Listed below are recognised CPD activities for this scheme. When selecting activities, Fellows, Members and Associates are reminded to consider the requirements relating to CPD hours for specialist and non-specialist training, as well as the criteria relating to the maximum number of CPD hours credit for specific activities.

Fellows are reminded that they must undertake at least 8 hours CPD in their designated specialist area. Members are reminded that they must undertake at least 6 hours in their designated specialist area and Associates are reminded that they must undertake at least 4 hours in their designated specialist area.

Recognised CPD Activities 2010

The list of recognised CPD activities should be used in conjunction with the criteria and explanatory notes detailed below, as well as the required evidence detailed in the following table. Particular attention is drawn to the criteria relating to ILEX Tutorial College (ITC) updates and the Legal Executive Journal or Internet articles.

(i) ILEX Tutorial College Updates

(ii) Relevant Journal or Internet Articles

(iii) Attendance at courses or seminars in specialist or non-specialist areas

(iv) Distance Learning Courses (including e-learning) in specialist or non-specialist areas

(v) In-house training by employer in specialist or non-specialist areas

(vi) Training by local ILEX or Law Society Branches in specialist or non-specialist areas

(vii) Academic or professional study in specialist or non-specialist areas

(viii) Production of a dissertation in specialist or non-specialist areas

(ix) Research of a legal topic in specialist areas only

(x) Preparation and delivery of training courses in specialist or non-specialist areas

(xi) Work shadowing in specialist or non-specialist areas

(xii) Coaching or mentoring in specialist or non-specialist areas

(xiii) Participation in development of areas of law through Committee or Working Party activity – specialist areas only

(xiv) Writing on law or practice – specialist areas only

Criteria and Explanatory Notes Relating to CPD Activities

(i) ITC updates, and (ii) Relevant journal or internet articles

1.) Only two ITC updates are available for each Fellow or Member.

2.) One ITC update equals a maximum of 4 hours CPD, and is likely to be in a Fellow’s or Member’s specialist area, but could be in a non-specialist area.

3.) In 2010 Fellows can claim a maximum of 12 hours CPD (75% of the CPD) for reading relevant articles and using ITC updates.

4.) Another CPD activity (other than ITC updates or reading relevant articles) MUST be undertaken by Fellow’s to achieve the outstanding CPD.

5.)  In 2010 Members can claim a maximum of 9 hours CPD (75% of the CPD) for reading relevant articles and using ITC updates.

6.) Another CPD activity (other than ITC updates or reading relevant articles) MUST be undertaken by Member’s to achieve the outstanding CPD.

Example: A Fellow uses two ITC updates (in specialist area) and reads four journal articles (in specialist area) spending 4 hours on the articles. Maximum CPD which can be claimed is 12 hours. Therefore, a further 4 hours CPD is required to be undertaken in a specialist or non-specialist area in any CPD activity except ITC updates or reading relevant articles

Use of ITC CPD updates, course manuals and self-assessment questions and answers

Each year ILEX will provide self-assessment questions and answers, with either a specially written CPD update or ILEX Tutorial College (ITC) course manual available to download to Fellows or Members who purchase them. A maximum of two CPD updates and/or ITC course manuals and self-assessment questions will be provided for each Fellow or Member. Fellows or Members are required to study the CPD update or ITC course manual and answer 30 multiple-choice and/or short-answer questions based on the materials. Fellows or Members are not required to return their answers to ILEX, but should note the completion of these in their log book. Wherever possible, the CPD updates or ITC course manuals and self-assessment questions and answers will be self-contained but, where there are major changes to the law in a particular field, it may not be practical to produce a self-contained guide in that field. These materials should become available in September 2010.

Fellows and Members should note that the CPD updates, ITC course manuals and self-assessment questions and answers are not intended for an academic study of the law. They are intended for those Fellows or Members already practising in the area of law for which the CPD materials have been requested, and they therefore assume a level of knowledge in that topic equivalent to a ILEX Level 6 Professional Higher Diploma in Law examination pass. Fellows or Members are advised against undertaking this form of CPD unless they are already fully conversant with the area of law in question.

Completion of ITC CPD materials in one subject will equate to 4 hours CPD. Fellows or Members may request two sets of ITC CPD materials, one of which must be in their nominated area of specialisation.

The ILEX Level 6 Professional Higher Diploma in Law subjects for which ITC CPD materials are available are as follows:

ITC CPD updates, self-assessment questions, answers and feedback

Civil Litigation

Conveyancing and Land Law (combined*)

Criminal Law and Practice (combined*)

Probate Law and Practice (combined*)

Family Law and Practice (combined*)

Law of Tort

Law of Contract

Landlord and Tenant Law

Equity and Trusts

Employment Law

* These subjects have been combined to create one text containing both substantive law and legal practice. 4 hours CPD is given for the combined subject.

(iii) Attendance at a course presented by a training provider

Attendance at a course provided by a training provider is sufficient training for CPD purposes up to the amount of hours in actual attendance. The Fellow or Member will need to complete his or her logbook with the details of the course and the number of hours of CPD credited, and ask the training provider to provide the course code for noting in the logbook as proof of attendance. All training providers should provide a course code. The Institute is unable to provide guarantees regarding the training delivered by any training provider.

(iv) Distance learning courses offered by a training provider

Distance learning courses (including e-learning) provided by a training provider are acceptable up to the amount of hours specified in the course materials, as long as the course provider has supplied the course code for the logbook in the same manner as for courses requiring attendance.

Any course taken with a training provider accredited by the Law Society or any other professional body may be used as ILEX CPD, provided the requirements of the ILEX scheme are satisfied.

(v) In-house training by employer

A Fellow or Member may engage in training carried out in-house by his or her employer as part of that employer’s continuing professional development for staff. In-house training providers are automatically approved for training their own staff, and are not required to undergo a formal listing process.

(vi) Training provided by local ILEX Branches or local Law Societies

A Fellow or Member may engage in training carried out by an ILEX Branch or by a local Law Society. Fellows or Members should check with their local Branch for any CPD training offered throughout the year. The Fellow’s or Member’s logbook must be coded by the Branch or Society Chairman or the training provider as appropriate.

(vii) Academic study

Academic study may be used to fulfil the CPD requirements in respect of all CPD hours (for Fellow’s 16 hours or Member’s 12 hours) in either specialist or non non-specialist areas.

(viii) Dissertation

Actual time researching and writing up a dissertation in the Fellow’s or Member’s chosen specialist area equates to up to 100% of the CPD requirement, whereas research and writing up a dissertation within a non-specialist area equates to up to 50% of the CPD requirement.

Where research and writing of a dissertation spans more than one year, this activity can be claimed for CPD purposes each year.

(ix) Research

Actual time spent on research undertaken in the Fellow’s or Member’s chosen specialist area equates to up to 100% of the CPD requirement, whereas research undertaken in a non-specialist area equates to a maximum of 50% of the CPD requirement.

(x) Preparation and delivery of training courses

Fellows or Members, who are ILEX tutors delivering the Level 3 Professional Diploma in Law or Level 6 Professional Higher Diploma in Law, cannot claim the delivery of these courses as a CPD activity. However, preparation, including research to ensure that up ­to­ date material is delivered, is a recognised CPD activity.

(xi) Work shadowing

Actual time spent work shadowing equates to a maximum of 100% or the CPD requirement if it is undertaken within the chosen specialist area, and equates to a maximum of 50% of the CPD requirement if it is undertaken within a non-specialist area.

(xii) Coaching and mentoring

Fellows or Members, who are ILEX Level 3 and Level 6 tutors, cannot claim as a CPD activity the coaching or mentoring of ILEX students towards their professional qualifications. This applies to coaching and mentoring in both specialist and non-specialist areas.

(xiii) Participation in development of specialist areas of law

This only counts as a recognised CPD activity when it is undertaken within the Fellow’s or Member’s chosen specialist area of law. Actual time spent at meetings equates to up to 100% of the CPD requirement.

(xiv) Writing on law and/or practice

This only counts as a recognised CPD activity when it is undertaken within the Fellow’s or Member’s chosen specialist area of law. Actual time spent on writing equates to up to 100% of the CPD requirement.