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CPD - The Twenty Most Frequently Asked Questions 

1. What is the purpose of Continuing Professional Development (CPD)?

CPD maintains, improves and extends the professional and legal skills, and personal qualities of the Associate Member, Graduate Member, Associate Prosecutor or Fellow. It is not only necessary for the execution of the Associate Member's, Graduate Member's, Associate Prosecutor's or Fellow’s professional and legal duties, but also upholds the standards required by the Institute throughout the member’s working life. In addition, CPD enhances the standing of Associate Members, Graduate Members, Associate Prosecutors and Fellows in their careers.

2. Who is required to undertake CPD?

CPD is a compulsory requirement for all Associate Members, Graduate Members, Associate Prosecutors and Fellows, unless they are retired.

3. How many hours of CPD are members required to undertake annually?

Fellows must undertake a minimum of 16 hours CPD each year, of which at least 8 hours must be in the Fellow’s chosen specialist area. Graduate Members must undertake a minimum of 12 hours CPD each year, of which at least 6 hours must be in the Graduate Member's chosen specialist area. Associate Members must undertake a minimum of 8 hours CPD each year, of which at least 4 hours must be in the Associate Member's chosen specialist area.

Associate Prosecutors must undertake a minimum of 16 hours of CPD each year, of which at least 8 hours must be gained in their specialist area of Criminal Litigation.

Associate Members, Graduate Members, Associate Prosecutors and Fellows will have a responsibility to manage their own CPD scheme and will have access to an online CILEx CPD logbook to record their training activities.

Associate Members, Graduate Members, Associate Prosecutors and Fellows are encouraged to reflect on how they complete their CPD and to consider the variety of activities available.

4. Are there any specific requirements for members in part-time employment?

No. Associate Members, Graduate Members, Associate Prosecutors and Fellows employed part time are required to complete their CPD under the same terms as Associate Members, Graduate Members, Associate Prosecutors and Fellows in full-­time employment. This is non­-discretionary.

5. Can CPD hours be carried over to the following CPD year?

No. If an Associate Member, Graduate Member, Associate Prosecutor or Fellow completes more than their requirement in any one year he or she may not carry them over to the following year.

6. When does the CPD year run from and when does it end?

The CPD year runs from 1st January and ends on 31st December of each year.

7. What happens if status or employment changes during the CPD year?

If an Affiliate Member of the Institute is upgraded to an Associate Member during the CPD year, he or she will not be required to undertake any CPD until the beginning of the next CPD year.

If an Associate Member of the Institute is upgraded to Graduate Member during the CPD year, he or she will only need to complete 8 hours CPD for that year.

If a Graduate Member of the Institute is upgraded to Fellow during the CPD year, he or she will only need to complete 12 hours of CPD for that year.

If an Associate Member, Graduate Member or Fellow changes from employment in non­-legal practice to employment within legal practice during the CPD year (or vice versa) then the CPD requirement will not change until the next CPD year.

8. What methods of training qualify for CPD purposes?

Associate Members, Graduate Members or Fellows may undertake training through any of the recognised activities listed. Associate Members, Graduate Members and Fellows are advised to look at the criteria relating to each type of activity and the table explaining how many hours can be claimed for each activity, and the evidence required for the logbook.

9. How do members undertake CPD provided by ILEX Tutorial College (ITC)?

Each year CILEx will provide a maximum of two CPD updates to Associate Members, Graduate Members or Fellows who purchase them. Associate Members, Graduate Members and Fellows are required to study these materials and answer the accompanying set of 30 self-assessment questions. Answers and feedback are provided. ITC provides materials for 10 of the current ILEX Level 6 Professional Higher Diploma in Law subjects.

One set of ITC materials will equate to 4 hours CPD. Graduate Members and Fellows may request two sets of ITC materials to gain 8 hours CPD, provided that one of these is in their area of specialism. Associate Members, Graduate Members or Fellows should request materials only in areas with which they are fully conversant. The ITC CPD materials are not intended for an academic study of the law. The ITC materials should become available between June and September each year.

10. What is the position for Legal Executive Advocates with regards to CPD?

Legal Executive Advocates are required to complete 5 hours advocacy skills and must complete the remaining 11 hours under the main CPD scheme for Fellows.

11. What records of CPD undertaken must members maintain?

Associate Members, Graduate Members, Associate Prosecutors and Fellows have a responsibility to record their activities in their online CPD logbook, available through My ILEX. Associate Members, Graduate Members, Associate Prosecutors and Fellows are advised to look at the criteria relating to each type of activity and the table explaining how many hours can be claimed for each activity, and the evidence required for the logbook.

12. When do Fellows and Graduate Members have to submit their 2009 online CPD logbook to ILEX?

Fellows and Graduate Members should submit their completed online 2009 logbook to CILEx before March 2010, CILEx will randomly select 25% of all Fellows and Graduate Members log books for sampling.

13. When will members receive their CPD information?

The CPD guidance notes and log book will be available online to all Associate Members, Graduate Members, Associate Prosecutors and Fellows in the January of each new CPD year. This information will be available through the ‘My ILEX’ section of the CILEx website.

14. What can a member do if his or her firm will not allow time off to complete CPD or provide funds for the cost of CPD?

The responsibility to undertake CPD lies with the individual Associate Member, Graduate Member, Associate Prosecutor and Fellow. An Associate Member's, Graduate Member's, Associate Prosecutor's and Fellow's employer is not obliged to provide the member with time off from work to complete the CPD, nor is the employer obliged to fund the cost incurred by the Associate Member, Graduate Member, Associate Prosecutor or Fellow for undertaking CPD.

Associate Members, Graduate Members, Associate Prosecutors and Fellows who find themselves in such circumstances may wish to consider low cost CPD activities such as reading relevant journal or internet articles. They are reminded that they may undertake up to two CPD updates available from ILEX Tutorial College.

15. What can a member do if he or she cannot comply with the CPD requirements?

CILEx accepts that on occasion it may prove difficult for Associate Members, Graduate Members, Associate Prosecutors or Fellows to comply with their CPD requirement. In such circumstances CILEx will aim to assist members as far as possible by considering a request for an extension period.

16. What happens if a member is working out of legal practice for a period of time?

Associate Members, Graduate Members or Fellows who are working, but are not employed within legal practice, are still required to undertake their CPD requirement but are not required to nominate a specialist area.

17. What is the situation regarding CPD requirements if a member is absent from work?

Where the period of absence due to illness, maternity leave or unemployment is less than six months in any one CPD year, Associate Members, Graduate Members, Associate Prosecutors and Fellows will be required to complete the full annual CPD requirement.

Where the period of absence for these reasons is for six months or more in any one CPD year, then Associate Members, Graduate Members, Associate Prosecutors and Fellows will not be required to fulfil their CPD requirement for that year.

18. What exemptions are available from the CPD scheme?

CPD is a mandatory requirement for all employed Associate Members, Graduate Members, Associate Prosecutors and Fellows, including Legal Accounts Executives, and there are no circumstances under which exemptions can be claimed.

19. What are the obligations in respect of CPD for members working outside the UK?

Associate Members, Graduate Members and Fellows working outside the United Kingdom must fulfil the same CPD requirements as Associate Members, Graduate Members and Fellows employed within the United Kingdom.

20. Can CPD required by other legal bodies be used towards the CILEx scheme?

Yes. CPD required of an Associate Member, Graduate Member, Associate Prosecutor or Fellow by other legal professional bodies, for example the Law Society or the Council for Licensed Conveyancers, may be used as CPD for the CILEx scheme provided all conditions of the CILEx scheme are met.