Professional Development
CPD Information
As of January 1st, 2011, lawyers and paralegals that have been practicing or providing legal services for more than 2 years must complete in each calendar year at least 12 hours of CPD in Eligible Educational Activities. A minimum of 3 of the 12 hours must be on topics related to professional responsibility, ethics and/or practice management (known as Professionalism Hours). Only Professionalism Hours must be accredited by the Law Society. The remaining 9 Substantive Hours need not be accredited. Substantive Hours may address substantive or procedural law topics and/or related skills. Non-legal subjects may also be eligible towards Substantive Hours if they are relevant to the lawyer's or paralegal's practice and professional development.
For further details and answers to frequently asked questions about CPD, please visit the CPD Requirement section of the Law Society of Upper Canada's website by clicking here.
Please be advised that on April 26, 2012 Convocation made two policy changes to the CPD Requirement. These changes are effective immediately and apply retroactively to any eligible programs or activities taken toward the 2012 CPD requirement. Please see their website for details.
To download a PDF information sheet on CPD program providers of interest to Ottawa lawyers, please click here.
To view a current list of Continuing Professional Development approved programs offered by the CCLA and their corresponding hours, please click here.
Lawyers must report their CPD activities annually by December 31st, 2011. To report hours, visit the LSUC Member Portal by clicking here. Each program will be available for selection the day after it takes place.
Once you are on the LSUC Member Portal page, follow these steps to report CPD:
1. Sign-in to the member portal (You must already be registered for the portal)
2. Select the CPD tab on the upper right
3. Select Update My CPD Program on the left sidebar
4. If the program contains professionalism content and has been accredited by the Law Society select:
Accredited Programs LSUC – if offered by the Law Society
Accredited Programs Other - if offered by another organization
5. If the program contains no professionalism content and you are claiming credit toward your 9 hours of non-accredited CPD select:
Non-Accredited Programs LSUC - if offered by the Law Society but not accredited for the professionalism requirement
Non-Accredited Programs Other - if offered by another organization but not accredited for the professionalism requirement
6. If accredited -- Search by program date or a word from the title, select the program, click submit
7. If non-accredited -- Enter the program information, click submit