What is the minimum amount of annual ethics training required for practicing and non-practicing class?

Practitioners are required to complete a minimum of 10 CPD points each year to maintain their practising certificate, stay up to date with legislative changes and the evolution of the ‘business of law’ in their practices. 

QLS offers opportunities to help practitioners gain their Continuing Professional Development (CPD) points such as:

• attending seminars and conferences
• preparing for presenting at seminars/conferences
• viewing on-demand recordings of conferences/seminars
• publishing articles in law journals and other legal publications such as Proctor
• becoming a member of a QLS section or committee.

CPD Rules And Policies

The Legal Profession Act 2007 gives the Society power to make rules in respect of CPD.
Those CPD Rules are set out in Part 6 of the Queensland Law Society Administration Rule 2005.
A CPD Guide can be downloaded from this page to provide guidance on CPD compliance for Queensland solicitors.

CPD Record keeping

There are a number of ways that you can record your CPD activities:

• Spreadsheet template — This template includes a drop-down selection of format types to help you to categorise your activities. It can be downloaded from this page. 
• Spreadsheet template for Accredited Specialists — This template contains the additional areas required to maintain your accreditation
• Member profile — Practitioners can access their online member profile at myQLS.  Simply logon to myQLS, select CPD History to view and update your CPD points. All QLS professional activities are automatically registered against this profile. Members also have the option to manually record other activities which are not captured within QLS's automatic administration.

CPD Audit

QLS annual CPD Audit is conducted by a random selection of QLS members. If you are selected for the Audit, you will be asked to complete a CPD report/statement and return it to QLS within 14 days.
You should ensure that you keep records of your CPD activities in a manner which will enable you to provide the following information if audited: 

• number of CPD units claimed; 
• the activity undertaken in respect of which the CPD units have been claimed (including for example the date, provider, format, description and, if relevant, an indication of which mandatory core area the activity relates); 
• the reasons for claiming that the activities for which the CPD units have been claimed satisfy the CPD Rules; and 
• particulars of any exemptions granted under the CPD Rules. 

You may be required to provide further evidence in support of your statement. Supporting documentation includes payment receipts, records of attendance, and seminar notes. 

If you have not complied with the CPD Rules, you will be given an opportunity to make a proposal to the CPD Committee to rectify the deficiency in compliance with the CPD Rules. If you fail to comply with an audit request, further action may be taken as set out in the CPD Rules

Newly admitted solicitors and solicitors returning from a break in practice

If you have recently commenced holding a practising certificate for the first time or have recommenced practice after a break you may have different CPD requirements for the initial period. See CPD Rule 10.

The CPD scheme is based on self-assessment of educational activities. If you assess that an activity extends your knowledge and skills in areas that are relevant to your practice needs or professional development, then you can claim the activity towards satisfaction of the CPD requirements. See CPD Rule 7.

There are a variety of ways to meet your CPD requirements. These include seminars, workshops, lectures, conference, discussion groups, multimedia or web-based programs, private study of audio/visual material, postgraduate study, research, preparation and editing of articles, membership and attendance at committees of professional bodies, successful completion of specialist accreditation assessment process, preparation and presentation of seminars. The complete list can be found in CPD Rule 8.

Cap on certain activities

The following table details the calculation of CPD Units and the maximum number of units that can be claimed per activity undertaken in accordance with Rule 9: 

The system of self-assessment underpinning the CPD scheme requires individual practitioners to determine the number of CPD units for which they will claim credit. The Society suggests that providers use one of the following statements on brochures in preference to making any specific reference to CPD points or units.

Version A - long version CPD activities are not accredited by the Law Society. If this particular educational activity extends your knowledge and skills in areas that are relevant to your practice needs or professional development, then you should claim one (1) "unit” for each hour of attendance, refreshment breaks not included.

The annual requirement is ten (10) CPD units each year from 1 April to 31 March.

Version B - short version
If this particular educational activity extends your knowledge and skills in areas that are relevant to your practice needs or professional development, then you should claim one (1) "unit” for each hour of attendance, refreshment breaks not included.