THE LORD Chancellor's Advisory Committee on Legal Education and Conduct (Aclec) has called on the Bar Council to follow the Law Society in making continuing professional development (CPD) compulsory.
The recommendation is made in an Aclec report issued last Wednesday which urges “greater commitment” by the legal profession as a whole.
It calls on the Bar to consider introducing a compulsory and formal scheme of CPD, regardless of the cost.
As of 1 October, all new barristers will have to undertake 42 hours of CPD during their first three years of practice and Bar Council head of education and training Nigel Bastin said it was likely the scheme would be extended to all barristers.
