There is no longer a need to commit to a 16 hours CPD point system or accredited training. In fact the SRA no longer accredit training providers.Solicitors will now have full responsibility to undertake training and development to ensure that they comply with Principle 5 of the SRA Principles (2011), namely that they are able ‘to deliver a proper standard of service to their clients’.  Solicitors will be applying for their practising certificates (or via bulk renewals in some firms) that they are ‘competent’ to comply with Principle 5.

The SRA have specified Solicitor Competence Statements in the following four areas:

As these are the ones they have assumed that Solicitors will need to comply with Rule 5. If you have your own competencies, which are ‘fit for purpose’ for your legal practice, then these should be mapped to the SRA generic ones. Further details are available on the SRA website.