Standards & Framework

1. Purpose and Scope

LegalCPD accredits continuing professional development activities relevant to enforcement, credit management, and civil litigation in England and Wales. The purpose of accreditation is to provide an independent assessment that a CPD activity meets defined quality standards, giving participants and their employers confidence in the quality and relevance of the learning undertaken.

Accreditation is available for structured courses, workshops, seminars, webinars, online learning modules, and blended learning programmes. The framework applies equally to all delivery formats and to all applicants, regardless of the size or nature of the training provider.

LegalCPD accreditation is a voluntary quality mark. It does not replace the requirements of any statutory regulator, professional body, or employer. Professionals should ensure that their CPD activities meet the specific requirements of their relevant regulatory body or professional association, including the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA), CILEx Regulation, and the Enforcement Conduct Board (ECB), in addition to any LegalCPD accreditation.

2. Accreditation Criteria

All applications for accreditation are assessed against the following five criteria. Each criterion must be satisfied for accreditation to be granted.

2.1 Learning Objectives

The activity must state clear, measurable learning objectives that are appropriate to the stated level and audience. Participants should be able to understand, before commencing the activity, what they will know or be able to do upon completion. Learning objectives should be specific, achievable, and relevant to professional practice in the enforcement, credit management, or civil litigation sectors.

2.2 Content Accuracy

All content must be accurate, current, and based on applicable legislation, regulations, case law, and established professional practice. Where content addresses areas of legal or regulatory uncertainty, this should be clearly identified. Content must not be misleading, and any opinions or interpretations must be clearly distinguished from statements of law or fact.

LegalCPD expects content to be reviewed and updated at least annually to reflect changes in legislation, regulation, case law, or professional practice. Failure to maintain current content may result in withdrawal of accreditation.

2.3 Assessment

The activity must include a method of assessing participant learning. Acceptable assessment methods include, but are not limited to: multiple-choice assessments, written exercises, practical demonstrations, case study analysis, reflective accounts, or structured attendance verification with engagement checks.

The assessment must be proportionate to the nature and duration of the activity. For short activities (under two hours), structured attendance verification with engagement checks may be sufficient. For longer activities or those leading to the award of CPD hours in excess of four, a substantive assessment of learning is expected.

2.4 Trainer Qualifications

The activity must be delivered by persons with demonstrable expertise in the subject matter and appropriate teaching or facilitation capability. LegalCPD does not prescribe specific qualifications for trainers but expects applicants to demonstrate that trainers have relevant professional experience and the ability to communicate effectively with the target audience.

Where an activity is delivered by multiple trainers, the qualifications and experience of each trainer involved in delivery should be provided as part of the application.

2.5 Participant Feedback

The activity must include a mechanism for collecting participant feedback. Feedback should address the quality of content, effectiveness of delivery, relevance to professional practice, and overall participant satisfaction. The applicant must demonstrate that feedback is reviewed and acted upon in the development and improvement of the activity.

3. Assessment Process

Applications for accreditation are submitted to LegalCPD together with supporting materials, which should include: course outlines or syllabi, sample learning materials, assessment instruments, trainer curricula vitae, and sample feedback forms.

Each application is assessed by a LegalCPD assessor against the five accreditation criteria set out above. The assessor may request additional information or clarification from the applicant during the assessment process.

LegalCPD aims to communicate an accreditation decision within ten working days of receiving a complete application with all required supporting materials. Complex applications or those requiring additional information may require a longer assessment period.

4. Decision Outcomes

Following assessment, one of the following decisions will be communicated to the applicant in writing:

• Approve: The activity meets all accreditation criteria. Accreditation is granted for twelve months from the date of the decision.
• Approve with Conditions: The activity substantially meets accreditation criteria but requires minor improvements to one or more areas. Accreditation is granted subject to the applicant implementing specified improvements within a stated timeframe.
• Request Improvements: The activity does not yet meet accreditation criteria in one or more areas but has the potential to do so with further development. The applicant is provided with specific feedback and invited to resubmit.
• Decline: The activity does not meet accreditation criteria and is not considered suitable for accreditation in its current form. The applicant is provided with reasons for the decision and may appeal in accordance with the appeals process.

5. Duration and Renewal

Accreditation is granted for a period of twelve months from the date of the accreditation decision. Accreditation must be renewed annually. Renewal applications should be submitted at least twenty working days before the expiry of the current accreditation period.

Renewal applications are assessed against the same criteria as initial applications. The renewal process takes into account any participant feedback received during the accreditation period, any changes to the activity since accreditation was granted, and any changes in relevant legislation, regulation, or professional practice.

Where accreditation lapses without renewal, the provider must submit a full new application. Lapsed accreditation may not be represented as current accreditation in any marketing or communications material.

6. Quality Assurance

LegalCPD maintains an ongoing quality assurance programme for accredited activities. Quality assurance measures include:

• Random audit of accredited activities, which may include observation of delivery, review of updated materials, or review of participant feedback
• Review of participant feedback data provided by the accredited provider as part of the annual renewal process
• Investigation of complaints received about accredited activities
• Monitoring of changes in relevant legislation, regulation, or professional practice that may affect the accuracy or relevance of accredited content

Where quality assurance activities identify concerns about an accredited activity, LegalCPD may require the provider to take corrective action. In serious cases, or where corrective action is not taken within a reasonable timeframe, LegalCPD may suspend or withdraw accreditation in accordance with the Terms of Accreditation.

7. CPD Hours Allocation

LegalCPD assigns CPD hours to accredited activities based on the estimated time required for a participant to complete all learning and assessment components. The allocation of CPD hours is determined during the accreditation assessment and is confirmed in the accreditation decision.

CPD hours are allocated on the basis of one CPD hour for each sixty minutes of structured learning activity. Pre-reading, post-activity reflection, and assessment time may be included where these form a required and structured part of the activity. Travel time and unstructured networking are not included in CPD hours allocation.

8. Scope Limitations

LegalCPD accreditation confirms that an activity meets defined quality standards for CPD delivery. Accreditation does not constitute:

• Endorsement of the training provider, its business practices, or its other products or services
• A guarantee that participants will achieve specific learning outcomes
• A substitute for the requirements of any statutory regulator or professional body
• Legal advice or a representation that the content of the accredited activity constitutes legal advice
• Validation of any academic qualification or professional certification

LegalCPD is not a statutory regulator and does not have regulatory powers. Accreditation is a voluntary quality mark and carries no statutory force. Professionals are responsible for ensuring that their CPD activities meet the requirements of their relevant regulatory body.