The IoP will be carrying out spot checks of paralegals’ compliance with their 2017-2018 Continuing Professional Development (CPD) requirements in early June 2019. All members should be aware that they may be asked to submit their 2017-2018 CPD training log. Any member may be chosen, with the exception of those exempt (e.g Affiliate members, Retired etc).
If you have any queries about the 2017-2018 CPD spot check please contact the IoP Membership Team at: [email protected].
What is CPD?
Continuing Professional Development commonly known as CPD, means the ongoing development of your knowledge and skills to ensure that you are competent to deliver legal services to your clients.
Keeping up to date with your CPD is one of the ways that we can ensure that you are competent to practise, maintaining the integrity of the profession and protecting the public.
We operate an outcomes focused scheme for most IoP members, which means that through the CPD year, you should follow the process above to identify your development needs and maintain and enhance your competence.
Who does the scheme apply to?
The CPD scheme at the IoP applies to the following members:
- Associate Paralegals
- Qualified Paralegals
- Fellows members*
* The requirements for Fellows is 12 hours of CPD per year
It is a requirement of the Code of Conduct that if you fall within one of the above grades, then you must complete the CPD requirements each year.
If you don’t comply with your CPD requirements you will lose the rights, which attach to your grade of membership and your membership will be suspended. You won’t be able to use your grade title or designatory letters until you bring your CPD record up to date and you will be required to return your membership certificate to us.
If you are unsure whether or not you have met your annual CPD requirements or if you think you might not be able to meet your CPD obligation for the CPD year, then please contact the IoP Membership Team at [email protected]
Find out what the requirements are for you by clicking HERE
CPD spot checks
Each year, as part of the supervision of IoP’s membership, we do spot checks and ask for the CPD training logs returns from those members required to undertake CPD.
A random sample of 5 percent is selected from the member database and we request full CPD records for the preceding CPD year, in this case 2017-2018. We review the records provided to ensure that the CPD requirements have been met.
If you are selected as part of the CPD spot check process, we will send you a request to forward your CPD record, within 6 weeks of the date this was requested. As a result, we recommend that you retain your CPD records for a period of two years following the closure of the CPD year.
