GSBA Posts

23 February 2023

CPD – Proposed Regime for 2023 Cycle

Dear Members

Please see below post from the Law Society Website ( https://www.lawsociety.ie/Solicitors/rules-legislation/CPD-Scheme/2023-cycle ), outlining the key provisions of the proposed CPD regime for 2023. There will be a further update when the process with the Department of Justice has concluded but as noted below, in the interim, those who wish to attend to their CPD early in the year should consider proceeding on the basis of the anticipated CPD regime for 2023.

2023 Cycle

New CPD regulations were adopted by the Law Society Council in late 2022 and are in the process of being implemented.

Key provisions

Following a comprehensive review of Continuing Professional Development, at its November 2022 meeting, the Council of the Law Society of Ireland approved a new CPD regime for 2023.

The adjustments must also be approved by the Department of Justice, and the Society has been interacting with the Department in that respect for the past few months. Presupposing the new CPD regime for 2023 is approved, the following are the key provisions:

  • Solicitors must complete 25 hours of CPD;
  • Up to 80% (twenty hours) may be undertaken online;
  • At least 20% (five hours) must be undertaken in-person;
  • At least 3 hours shall be in the category of Client Care and Professional Standards;
  • At least 5 hours shall be in the category of Professional Development and Solicitor Wellbeing;
  • Senior practitioners must complete a minimum of eight hours, being the eight designated minimum hours in the categories of Client Care and Professional Standards /Professional Development and Solicitor Wellbeing.

When the process with the Department is concluded a further update will issue. In the interim, those who wish to attend to their CPD early in the year should consider proceeding on the basis of the anticipated CPD regime for 2023.