Information for in-house CPD providers
The Solicitors Regulation Authority's continuing professional development scheme, or CPD scheme, requires that all solicitors and registered European lawyers (RELs) who are in legal practice or employment in England and Wales, and work 32 hours or more per week, undertake a minimum of 16 hours of CPD per year.
For solicitors and RELs who work fewer than 32 hours per week, the requirement is reduced.
You can consult detailed information about CPD scheme requirements and about activities that can be undertaken for CPD purposes.
To meet the CPD requirements, a minimum of 25 per cent of every solicitor's and every REL's CPD activities each year must consist of participation in accredited training courses. CPD training courses are accredited exclusively by authorised providers. Accredited courses can be run on an in-house basis or externally.
What is an in-house CPD provider?
In-house CPD providers are firms or in-house departments that are authorised to provide CPD training for their own staff.
Interested in becoming an in-house CPD provider?
If you're interested in your firm or your organisation becoming an in-house CPD provider (i.e. you wish to provide CPD training to solicitors who belong to your firm or organisation), learn how to apply for authorisation as an in-house CPD provider.
What is an external CPD provider?
External CPD providers are authorised to offer training on a commercial basis to any interested solicitors.
Interested in becoming an external CPD provider?
If you're interested in your company, organisation or institution becoming an external CPD provider (i.e. you wish to provide CPD training to solicitors on a commercial basis), learn how to apply for authorisation as an external CPD provider.
Becoming an in-house CPD provider
Many firms and legal departments offer in-house training and development programmes for their own staff.
In-house training and development programmes range
- from structured sessions for viewing approved videos,
- to face-to-face training in technical legal topics or skills.
If your firm or in-house department plans to offer training for continuing professional development (CPD) purposes, it must apply to the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) to be authorised as an in-house CPD provider.
If your firm or legal department is granted authorisation, it can self-accredit in-house training programmes for the purposes of the SRA's CPD scheme, subject to continued compliance with the terms and conditions of the authorisation agreement.
Are you interested in your firm or in-house legal department becoming an in-house CPD provider?
Learn how to apply for authorisation as an in-house CPD provider.
We normally process applications for authorisation by the first day of the month following receipt.
Accreditation of training
In-house authorisation enables solicitors' firms, in-house legal departments and other organisations to allocate continuing professional development (CPD) credit to courses that are designed for
- their own staff,
- non-fee paying guests (costs may be recovered, e.g. room hire and refreshment expenses),
- clients.
Authorised in-house providers can self-accredit courses that are suitable for solicitors and meet the standards set out in the Solicitors Regulation Authority's criteria for authorisation as an in-house CPD course provider (PDF 87K), subject to continued compliance with the terms and conditions of the authorisation agreement.
Our criteria for authorisation as an in-house CPD course provider (PDF 87K) set standards for
Terms and conditions
Authorised in-house continuing professional development (CPD) providers are permitted to self-accredit the training they offer to staff—on the condition that such training programmes clearly meet standards set out in the Solicitors Regulation Authority's criteria for authorisation as an in-house CPD course provider (PDF 87K).
In-house CPD providers remain subject to the terms and conditions (PDF 87K) of the authorisation agreement with the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA). The agreement is for a three-year period; at the end of the period, the SRA sends the provider a renewal letter and application form. Renewal is subject to the same requirements and procedures (PDF 87K) and terms and conditions as the original authorisation agreement, as set out in the criteria for authorisation as an in-house CPD course provider (PDF 87K).
The terms and conditions (PDF 87K) of the authorisation agreement outline circumstances under which the authorisation agreement may be terminated by either party; they also specify CPD course providers' obligations in relation to payment of fees, accreditation of courses and monitoring arrangements.
Download guidance (PDF 87K) and an application form (PDF 97K) for authorisation as an in-house continuing professional development (CPD) provider.
Please note that an in-house CPD provider authorisation agreement with the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) permits a firm or in-house department to self-accredit training exclusively for its own staff, non-fee-paying guests and clients.
In-house CPD provider authorisation does not include the following types of courses:
- compulsory courses (e.g. the Management Course Stage 1),
- external courses offered on a commercial basis,
- other courses that may be designated by the SRA from time to time.
If your firm wishes to offer such a course, it must submit a separate application to the SRA and pay the appropriate fee. If your firm is interested in offering external courses on a commercial basis, consult information on becoming an external CPD provider.
You can download an application form and guidance for authorisation to provide the compulsory Management Course Stage 1. Alternatively, contact us for an application form.