Continuing Professional Development builds on intentionality

Introduction
Introductory Video
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) (PDF 60k)
The Rules for CPD (PDF 32k)
Contact Information

Introduction

The Benchers have approved the implementation of a Continuing Professional Development (CPD) program for all active members of the Law Society of Alberta (LSA), to come into effect by March 2009.

The new program will require the preparation of annual CPD plans. Lawyers will develop their plans but advise the LSA on an annual basis that these are completed. Plans will be submitted only on LSA's request.

The Benchers recognize that lawyers already approach continuing professional development as their professional responsibility. As such, this new CPD program is lawyer-centred, and is least intrusive of lawyers' independence. It is also consistent with the accepted principle that adults learn best when they direct their own learning.

What's new in the CPD program is the sense of intentionality: that lawyers must regularly take time to consider and plan their professional development, and must be seen to be engaging in such activities.

The CPD program fosters accountability within the legal profession, so that the Law Society can demonstrate, in the public interest and within an increasingly-scrutinized regulatory environment that lawyers are effectively engaging in continuing professional development.

The LSA is partnering with Legal Education Society of Alberta (LESA) to introduce a toolbox in 2008 that will include a resource bank, self assessment tools, and CPD plan template. These are available at www.CPDalberta.ca.

• The resource bank is meant to be a continuously updated resource that will inform lawyers' choices for professional development opportunities.

• The self-assessment tool is meant to help match CPD resources with individual lawyers' needs.

• While online access will be encouraged, paper-based versions of the CPD tools will also be available. Use of the CPD plan template will be strictly optional, recognizing that many lawyers already prepare and keep annual learning plans.

Key program principles:

• Aside from more conventional opportunities, lawyers will be encouraged to fulfill CPD requirements by committing to engage in a wide range of other activities which meet the definition of continuing professional development;

• The Rules of the Law Society will define continuing professional development broadly to include learning activities relevant to lawyers' professional needs or career interests, those of his or her employer, or those related to the lawyers professional ethics and responsibilities. In any case, the learning activity will have to contain significant substantive, technical, practical or intellectual content. It will be each lawyer's responsibility to determine whether a learning activity meets these criteria and therefore qualifies as Continuing Professional Development.

At the same time, the CPD program ensures accountability so that the Law Society can demonstrate in the public interest and in an increasingly-scrutinized regulatory environment that lawyers are effectively engaging in continuing professional development.

For more information, please click on the following:

Introductory Video (WMV 18.8Mb)

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) (PDF 60k)

The Rules for CPD (PDF 36k)

For information or questions about the new CPD Rules, please contact ...

Margaret Hollis, Policy and Program Counsel
The Law Society of Alberta
Phone (403) 229-4700, Fax (403) 228-1728
email to the CPD Program

For information or help about the new CPD Tools and website, please contact ...

Legal Education Society of Alberta
#2610, 10104 - 103 Avenue
Edmonton, Alberta T5J 0H8
toll free in Alberta : 1.800.282.3900
fax: 780.425.0885

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