Continuing Competence for Solicitors - What Is Required?

Introduction

In accordance with Section 3.3 of the Code of Conduct for Solicitors and Section 4.3 of the Code of Conduct for Firms, continuing competence applies to all solicitors who have a practising certificate, including those that work in the UK and overseas.

The SRA recently announced that they are going to step-up their approach to the assessment of continuing competence, which may include spot checks, audits, and file reviews.

So, what do your continuing competence records look like? Are you reflecting on your learning and development needs? Are you undertaking the correct training for your requirements?

This webinar will provide you with practical and easy to understand suggestions of how continuing competence can work for you.

What You Will Learn

This webinar will cover the following:

• What is meant by ‘continuing competence’ - a recap of the old and new system
• The Competence Statement
• A statement of solicitor competence
• The threshold statement
• A statement of legal knowledge
• What the SRA expects you to do
• Reflect
• Plan
• Complete
• Evaluate
• Record
• Annual declaration
• More flexibility - wider range of activities
• Record keeping - what records are required to demonstrate competence including templates
• Reporting to the SRA on your annual declaration
• The future - what happens next with the SRA

This webinar was recorded on 31st May 2023