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Home Lawyers Enhancing Competence & CPD Continuing Professional Development Requirement Eligible educational activities
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Eligible educational activities

The Continuing Professional Development (CPD) requirement recognizes a range of eligible educational activities. These are described in more detail below, including the annual limits, if any, on the number of hours that can be claimed toward the CPD requirement. Any CPD program or activity in which Professionalism or Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) time is being requested must be accredited. Time related to substantive or procedural law topics and/or related skills do not need to be accredited by the Law Society. Examples of activities that are not eligible for CPD hours are found at the end of this resource. 

  • CPD programs
    CPD programs are formal, instruction-based sessions that may be offered by organizations or individuals in or outside Ontario, such as education providers, law associations, law firms, in-house legal departments, government associations, industry groups, lawyers, paralegals, or other professionals.

    The following are examples of participation in CPD programs or courses that are eligible to meet the CPD requirement:
     
    • Attending in person, online or by telephone, at live CPD programs and courses
    • Participating as a registrant in a college, university, or other designated educational institution program, including interactive distance education and LL.M. programs
    • Viewing or listening to recorded or archived CPD programs or courses
    • Taking part in an interactive, online course
    • Attending the CPD components of any board, bar, or law association meetings (including but not limited to firm, Law Society, Convocation, legal association, or Annual General meetings etc.)
  • Alternate educational activities
    • Teaching (maximum 6 hours per year)
      Teaching, including acting as a judge or coach in a mooting competition, is an eligible activity only if it is undertaken on a volunteer or part-time basis. Teaching as part of full-time or regular employment will not be eligible for credit.

      The content must be law-related and within the definition of CPD. There is no limit on the type of audience. If the same content is taught more than once in a calendar year, CPD Hours are only available for the first delivery of that content.

      Lawyers and paralegals may claim up to 3 hours of credit for every hour of teaching to reflect preparation time (up to the annual maximum of 6 hours). For example, for 30 minutes of teaching, a lawyer or paralegal may claim up to 1 hour and 30 minutes.
    • Writing and editing (maximum 6 hours per year)
      Writing and editing are eligible activities only if undertaken on a volunteer or part-time basis. Writing or editing as part of full-time or regular employment will not be eligible for credit.

      The content must be law-related, within the definition of CPD, and may be intended for publication by a third party or as part of an in-house or firm publication, rather than for personal use. Content may include books, articles, or online publications, including blog posts and magazines. Editing legal texts or case reports and preparing case headnotes, with the same restrictions as set out for writing, are also eligible activities. There is no limitation on the audience for whom the work is written.
    • Mentoring (maximum 12 hours per year)
      The Mentor and Mentee may claim time spent discussing substantive or procedural law or practice management topics. If claiming all 12 CPD hours through mentoring, at least three of those 12 hours must be accredited Professionalism Hours.

      Time spent discussing specific client files or reviewing work product is not eligible for CPD hours. A Mentee cannot claim time spent being mentored prior to being licensed after they are licensed.
    • Participating in study groups
      Study groups are attendance at a group session of two or more lawyers or paralegals that is organized for the purpose of discussing content within the definition of CPD. Study group participants may be lawyers or paralegals in any practice setting. File-specific discussion is not eligible.

      Lawyers or paralegals who facilitate study group sessions may claim up to 3 hours of credit for every 1-hour session to reflect preparation time. Facilitator's time will be considered teaching time in order to reflect the eligible preparation time.
  • Ineligible activities
    The following activities are not eligible for CPD Hours:
     
    • Engaging in self-study
    • Performing pro-bono work
    • Marking for law school, university, or college courses
    • Drafting workplace policies or other practice management processes
    • Meeting with licensees or others where the primary focus is the operational business of a firm or practice, and the content is primarily delivered both by and to persons related to that firm or practice
    • Conducting any activity primarily for the purpose of marketing to existing or potential clients
    • Acting as a chair, member or adjudicator of a tribunal or other institution or board
    • Attending at
      • The launch of any form of legal materials or
      • The non-CPD components of any board, bar, or law association meetings (including but not limited to firm, Law Society, Convocation, legal association, or Annual General meetings etc.)
CPD Accreditation
 
Professionalism Hours (including EDI Professionalism Hours) require accreditation from the Law Society or designated Accredited Provider of Professionalism Content. Substantive Hours need not be accredited.

If you are participating in any of the activities listed on this page and seeking Professionalism Hours, please ensure the eligible educational activity has been accredited.

Last updated: March 12, 2024
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