Terms of Accreditation

1. Definitions

In these terms, unless the context otherwise requires, the following expressions shall have the meanings set out below:

“Accredited Activity” means a continuing professional development activity, course, module, or learning programme that has been granted accreditation by LegalCPD in accordance with these terms and the Standards.
“Applicant” means any person, firm, organisation, or entity that submits an application for accreditation of a learning activity to LegalCPD.
“Accredited Provider” means an Applicant whose application for accreditation has been approved by LegalCPD and whose Accredited Activity remains subject to a valid and subsisting accreditation.
“Accreditation Period” means the period of twelve months commencing on the date on which accreditation is granted by LegalCPD, or such other period as may be specified in writing by LegalCPD at the time of granting accreditation.
“LegalCPD” means the continuing professional development accreditation body operating at legalcpd.org.uk, being a service provided for the purpose of assessing and accrediting legal sector professional development activities.
“Standards” means the accreditation criteria, quality benchmarks, and assessment framework published by LegalCPD in the document entitled “LegalCPD Standards and Framework”, as amended from time to time.
“Accreditation Mark” means the LegalCPD accreditation badge, logo, certification mark, and associated branding elements provided to Accredited Providers for use in accordance with these terms.

2. Grant of Accreditation

Accreditation is granted at the sole and absolute discretion of LegalCPD following assessment of the application against the Standards. The decision to grant or refuse accreditation is final and LegalCPD is under no obligation to provide detailed reasons for any refusal.

Accreditation confirms that, in the opinion of LegalCPD, the Accredited Activity met the Standards at the date of assessment. Accreditation is activity-specific and applies only to the learning activity described in the application as approved by LegalCPD.

The grant of accreditation does not constitute, and shall not be construed as constituting, endorsement by LegalCPD of the Accredited Provider's business, services, commercial practices, or any other activity beyond the specific Accredited Activity. Accreditation confirms only that the learning activity meets quality benchmarks for continuing professional development.

LegalCPD reserves the right to refuse any application for accreditation without providing reasons and without incurring any liability to the Applicant.

3. Obligations of the Accredited Provider

Upon grant of accreditation and throughout the Accreditation Period, the Accredited Provider shall:

Maintain the accuracy, currency, and relevance of all content, materials, and resources forming part of the Accredited Activity, ensuring that all legal references, statutory provisions, case law, and regulatory guidance remain up to date.
Notify LegalCPD in writing within fourteen days of any material change to the Accredited Activity, including but not limited to changes in content, delivery method, duration, learning outcomes, assessment methods, or delivery personnel.
Collect participant feedback in relation to each delivery of the Accredited Activity and review such feedback to ensure the continuing quality and relevance of the activity.
Cooperate fully with any quality assurance activities undertaken by LegalCPD, including responding to requests for information, providing access to course materials, and facilitating observation of delivery where requested.
Display the accreditation status accurately and prominently in all marketing materials, website content, course descriptions, and promotional communications relating to the Accredited Activity.
Not misrepresent the scope, nature, or effect of accreditation, and in particular not suggest that accreditation extends to activities other than the specific Accredited Activity, or that LegalCPD endorses the provider's business generally.
Maintain comprehensive records of the delivery of the Accredited Activity, including dates of delivery, participant numbers, participant feedback, and copies of materials provided to participants, for the duration of the Accreditation Period and for a period of twelve months thereafter.
Comply with all applicable laws, regulations, and professional standards in the delivery of the Accredited Activity, including but not limited to data protection legislation, consumer protection law, and equality legislation.
Ensure that all certificates of completion, attendance records, and CPD documentation issued to participants accurately reflect the accreditation status and correctly reproduce the Accreditation Mark in accordance with these terms.

Failure to comply with any of the obligations set out in this section may result in suspension or withdrawal of accreditation in accordance with section 6 of these terms.

4. Use of the LegalCPD Accreditation Mark

Subject to compliance with these terms, the Accredited Provider is granted a non-exclusive, non-transferable, revocable licence to use the LegalCPD Accreditation Mark during the Accreditation Period in connection with the Accredited Activity only.

The Accredited Provider may use the Accreditation Mark on and in connection with:

Marketing materials, website content, and promotional communications specifically relating to the Accredited Activity;
Certificates of completion, attendance records, and CPD documentation issued to participants who have completed the Accredited Activity;
Course descriptions, programme specifications, and learning materials provided to participants in the Accredited Activity.

The Accreditation Mark must be reproduced accurately and in accordance with any brand guidelines provided by LegalCPD. The Mark must not be altered, adapted, distorted, or modified in any way. The Mark must be displayed in a manner that makes clear that it relates to the specific Accredited Activity and not to the provider's business generally.

The Accreditation Mark must not be used in any manner that:

Suggests endorsement by LegalCPD of the provider's business, services, or activities beyond the specific Accredited Activity;
Creates confusion as to the scope or nature of accreditation;
Brings LegalCPD into disrepute or damages its reputation;
Violates any applicable law or regulation;
Infringes the intellectual property rights of any third party.

All intellectual property rights in the Accreditation Mark remain the exclusive property of LegalCPD. No rights in the Mark are transferred to the Accredited Provider other than the limited licence granted by this section.

Use of the Accreditation Mark must cease immediately and without notice upon expiry, withdrawal, or suspension of accreditation. The Accredited Provider must remove the Mark from all materials, websites, and communications within seven days of expiry, withdrawal, or suspension, and must provide written confirmation to LegalCPD that this has been completed.

5. Duration and Renewal

Accreditation is granted for the Accreditation Period specified in the accreditation notification, being ordinarily a period of twelve months from the date of grant. Accreditation expires automatically at the end of the Accreditation Period unless renewed in accordance with this section.

An Accredited Provider wishing to renew accreditation should submit a renewal application to LegalCPD at least twenty working days before the expiry of the current Accreditation Period. Renewal applications shall be assessed against the Standards in force at the time of the renewal application.

LegalCPD may require the submission of updated materials, revised content, or additional information as part of a renewal application. The submission of a renewal application does not guarantee that renewal will be granted.

Where accreditation lapses without renewal having been granted, the activity shall no longer be treated as accredited and the provider must cease use of the Accreditation Mark immediately. A provider wishing to regain accreditation following lapse must submit a new application for accreditation and pay the applicable fees.

Continued use of the Accreditation Mark after expiry or lapse of accreditation constitutes a material breach of these terms and may result in legal action to protect the reputation and intellectual property of LegalCPD.

6. Variation and Withdrawal

LegalCPD reserves the right to vary the terms of accreditation or to withdraw accreditation at any time where:

The Accredited Activity no longer meets the Standards, whether by reason of changes in law, professional practice, or quality benchmarks;
The Accredited Provider fails to comply with any provision of these terms;
The Accredited Provider fails to cooperate with quality assurance activities or fails to respond to requests for information;
Material changes to the Accredited Activity have been made without notification to LegalCPD in accordance with section 3 of these terms;
There is evidence of misrepresentation of the scope or nature of accreditation by the Accredited Provider;
Participant feedback or other evidence suggests that the quality of the Accredited Activity has declined below acceptable standards;
The Accredited Provider has brought or is likely to bring LegalCPD into disrepute;
Circumstances have arisen that, in the reasonable opinion of LegalCPD, make continuation of accreditation inappropriate.

Save in circumstances of urgency or where there is evidence of serious breach, LegalCPD will provide the Accredited Provider with written notice of the intention to vary or withdraw accreditation, setting out the grounds for the proposed action. The Accredited Provider shall have fourteen days from the date of such notice to make written representations to LegalCPD.

LegalCPD shall consider any representations made and shall notify the Accredited Provider of its decision in writing. The decision of LegalCPD shall be final.

Upon withdrawal of accreditation, the Accredited Provider must immediately cease use of the Accreditation Mark and must not represent the activity as accredited. Fees paid in respect of the withdrawn accreditation are not refundable.

7. Fees

Accreditation fees are published on the LegalCPD website at legalcpd.org.uk and are incorporated into these terms by reference. Fees are payable in full upon submission of an application for accreditation or renewal.

All fees are exclusive of value added tax or any other applicable taxes, which shall be payable in addition at the prevailing rate.

Fees are non-refundable once the assessment process has commenced, regardless of whether accreditation is granted or refused. Where an application is withdrawn by the Applicant before assessment has commenced, fees may be refunded at the discretion of LegalCPD, subject to retention of an administrative charge.

LegalCPD reserves the right to vary fees from time to time without prior notice. Changes to fees shall take effect for applications and renewals submitted after the date of publication of the revised fees on the LegalCPD website. Fees applicable to existing accreditations shall not be varied during the Accreditation Period.

Failure to pay fees due under these terms shall constitute a material breach and may result in suspension or withdrawal of accreditation.

8. Limitation of Liability

Nothing in these terms shall operate to exclude or limit liability for death or personal injury resulting from negligence, for fraud or fraudulent misrepresentation, or for any other liability that cannot be excluded or limited by law.

Subject to the foregoing, the total liability of LegalCPD to an Accredited Provider or Applicant in connection with accreditation, whether arising in contract, tort (including negligence), breach of statutory duty, or otherwise, shall be limited to the amount of fees paid by the Accredited Provider or Applicant in respect of the relevant accreditation.

LegalCPD does not accept liability for any indirect, consequential, special, or economic loss or damage arising from or in connection with:

The grant, refusal, variation, suspension, or withdrawal of accreditation;
Any decision made by LegalCPD in relation to accreditation;
Reliance placed on accreditation status by any third party, including participants, professional bodies, regulators, or employers;
Changes to the Standards or to the accreditation process;
Any act or omission of the Accredited Provider in the delivery of the Accredited Activity.

The limitations and exclusions of liability in this section shall apply to the fullest extent permitted by law and shall survive termination or expiry of accreditation.

LegalCPD provides accreditation as an independent quality assurance service. Accreditation does not constitute a guarantee of any particular outcome for participants or a warranty as to the fitness for purpose of the Accredited Activity for any particular use.

9. Governing Law

These terms, and any dispute or claim arising out of or in connection with them or their subject matter or formation (including non-contractual disputes or claims), shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of England and Wales.

The courts of England and Wales shall have exclusive jurisdiction to settle any dispute or claim arising out of or in connection with these terms or their subject matter or formation (including non-contractual disputes or claims).

10. Contact

All enquiries, applications, and correspondence relating to accreditation should be directed to LegalCPD via the contact details published on the LegalCPD website.

LegalCPD will endeavour to respond to all enquiries within five working days. Application decisions are ordinarily communicated within twenty working days of receipt of a complete application, subject to the complexity of the activity under assessment.