New compulsory risk management CPD requirement

From the 2018-19 CPD year, Scottish solicitors will be required to include a minimum of one hour ‘risk management’ CPD. The new requirement is part of, and not in addition to the existing annual 20 hours requirement.

The change comes as part of our ongoing efforts to improve the profession’s risk profile, ensure that solicitors have the skills to manage, mitigate and avoid risk on behalf of their employers and keep professional indemnity insurance premiums down.

To help Scottish solicitors to meet the new requirements, we will be providing risk management CPD free of charge for all members, during the 2018-19 practice year.

Professional indemnity master policy insurers RSA have provided a grant to help promote risk management and we will be working with insurance brokers, Lockton and other stakeholders to develop content which is meaningful and relevant to solicitors across all practice types and working in-house.

A programme of free CPD events will be held in  venues across Scotland.  Verifiable online content will also be available soon, offering greater accessibility and convenience for practitioners.