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Frequently Asked Questions about the CPD Requirement
Frequently Asked Questions about the CPD Requirement
- Who is required to complete the CPD Requirement?
  
  Lawyers and paralegals in the 100% fee-paying category are required to fulfill the CPD Requirement. Lawyers and paralegals who are in other fee categories (i.e., 10%, 25%, and 50%) who are providing legal services that are either based on Ontario or Canadian law (including on a pro bono basis) are also required to fulfill the CPD Requirement.
  
  See By-Law 6.1 and Fee Categories for more information.
- What is the CPD Requirement?
  
  Under the Law Society’s CPD Requirement, lawyers and paralegals are required to complete at least 12 CPD Hours every calendar year. These CPD Hours consist of a minimum of 3 Professionalism Hours and up to 9 Substantive Hours. Of those 3 Professionalism Hours, at least 1 Hour must address issues of Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (“EDI”).
- Do I have to take accredited programs to fulfill the CPD Requirement?
  
  Only programs and activities with Professionalism Hours (including EDI Professionalism Hours) must be accredited by the Law Society. See CPD Accreditation for more information.
  
  Substantive Hours do not require accreditation. However, on an annual basis, you should conduct your own assessment and confirm that your CPD programs or eligible activities maintain or enhance your professional knowledge, skills, and attitudes in the context of your practice and professional development.
- Where can lawyers and paralegals find accredited programs that have Professionalism Hours?
  
  Accredited programs containing Professionalism Hours can be identified by certain text and logos, which will appear on program brochures and materials. See the Communication Guidelines for Providers for more information.
  
  The Law Society offers many accredited professionalism programs at a nominal cost to lawyers and paralegals. Please see CPD Calendar for more information about Law Society's CPD programs.
- What is the difference between CPD programs and CPD activities?
  
  CPD programs are formal, instruction-based sessions. They are usually offered by organizations such as education providers, law associations, law firms, government associations and industry groups. CPD activities include a broad range of other, non-program learning methods such as teaching, writing, mentoring, and participation in study groups of 2 or more colleagues. See Eligible Educational Activities for more information.
  
  Note that CPD Programs and CPD activities must be accredited by the Law Society if the lawyer or paralegal is seeking to count them as part of their Professionalism Hours. See CPD Accreditation Process for more information.
- Are online programs eligible for CPD Hours?
  
  Yes, viewing live or archived webcasts, video replays, or other recorded program formats without a colleague are eligible educational activities. There is no annual maximum number of hours that can be claimed for these methods of viewing programs.
- Can CPD Hours completed in one calendar year be carried over into the next calendar year?
  
  No, a lawyer or paralegal who completes more than 12 hours of eligible CPD activities in a year is not entitled to carry over the balance into the next year.
- I made an error when entering my CPD Hours on the Portal. How can I fix it?
  
  During the reporting year, lawyers and paralegals can edit or delete any entry for a professionalism program, substantive program or activity using the self-edit function.
- What is the requirement for a lawyer or paralegal who returns to practice during the reporting year?
  
  Lawyers and paralegals who resume practising law or providing legal services within the reporting year must complete 1 hour of CPD for each month or partial month of practice or provision of legal services. CPD hours can be completed at any time during the open reporting period. There is no requirement to complete these prorated hours after returning to practice or to the provision of legal services.
- Will CPD Hours obtained outside of Ontario count toward the CPD Requirement?
  
  Yes, if the program or activity is an eligible educational activity for the CPD Requirement. See Eligible Educational Activities.
- Is teaching an eligible activity?
  
  Yes, teaching is eligible to a maximum of 6 hours per year. Actual teaching time may be multiplied by a factor of 3 to reflect actual preparation time. For example, 30 minutes of teaching will be equal to up to 1 hour and 30 minutes of CPD. The teaching content must be law-related and within the CPD definition. There is no limitation on the type of audience. If the same content is taught more than once in a calendar year, CPD credit is only available for the first delivery of that content. Teaching is an eligible activity only if it is undertaken on a volunteer or part-time teaching basis. Teaching as part of full-time or regular employment will not be eligible.
  
  Chairing a program may be eligible, provided the chair does more than introduce speakers. The Chair must act as a facilitator of the program for it to be eligible.
  
  Acting as a judge or coach in a mooting competition is an eligible educational activity.
  
  To qualify for Professionalism Hours, teaching activities must address topics of professional responsibility, ethics, practice management and/or equality, diversity and inclusion and be accredited by the Law Society. See CPD Accreditation for more information.
- Is presenting an information session to clients or writing/editing client bulletins an eligible activity?
  
  If presenting the information session or writing/editing client bulletins is primarily a "teaching" rather than a "pitching" activity, and it enables the lawyer or paralegal to fulfill the definition of CPD, which requires that the activity maintain or enhance a lawyer's professional knowledge, skills, attitudes and ethics, then it is an eligible activity. If the educational content of the activity is minimal or basic, or if it is repeated with modest changes to several audiences, it is not eligible.
- Is writing and/or editing an eligible educational activity?
  
  Yes, writing and editing books, articles with or without a co-author is eligible to a maximum of 6 hours per year. The book or article must be intended for publication by a third party, or included as part of an in-house or firm publication, rather than for personal use. 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.
  
  Only volunteer or part-time writing is eligible. Writing as part of full-time or regular employment is not eligible.
  
  To qualify for Professionalism Hours, writing and/or editing activities must address topics of professional responsibility, ethics, practice management and/or equality, diversity and inclusion and be accredited by the Law Society. See CPD Accreditation for more information.
- Is mentoring an eligible educational activity?
  
  Yes, mentoring activities are eligible and have no annual maximum. Eligible mentoring activities include mentoring, being mentored, providing coach or advisor support, participating in a coach or advisor program, acting as an articling principal, or supervising an LPP work placement or paralegal field placement. For more information see Eligible Educational Activities.
  
  To qualify for Professionalism Hours, mentoring activities must address topics of professional responsibility, ethics, practice management and/or equality, diversity and inclusion and be accredited by the Law Society. See CPD Accreditation for more information.
- Are study group activities eligible?
  
  Yes, study groups are eligible and have no annual maximum. This will include attendance at a group session of 2 or more lawyers or paralegals that is organized for the purpose of discussing content that falls within the CPD definition. Study group participants may be lawyers or paralegals from a variety of settings — sole and small firm colleagues in the same community or lawyers and paralegals in the same firm, legal department, government agency, or clinic. Live, in-person participation, in addition to telephone conference, web conference (e.g., Skype, Google Chat), or videoconference are all acceptable delivery methods, as long as attendees can interact with one another in real time. File or matter- specific discussion is not eligible. Lawyers or paralegals who facilitate or instruct study group sessions may claim up to 3 hours of credit for every 1 hour session to reflect preparation time.
  
  To qualify for Professionalism Hours, study group activities must cover topics of professional responsibility, ethics, practice management and/or equality, diversity and inclusion and be accredited by the Law Society. See CPD Accreditation Process for more information.
  
  The Law Society has additional resources to assist lawyers and paralegals in obtaining CPD Hours through study groups. See Professionalism Case Studies for more information.
- Are bar association, or other law or paralegal association, meetings eligible?
  
  Where lawyers or paralegals attend meetings that involve both business related to the association and an educational session dealing with substantive, procedural law or professionalism content that comes within the CPD definition, only the hours devoted to the educational session are eligible.
- Can self-study be counted toward the CPD Requirement?
  
  Self-study is not eligible for CPD Hours. Self-study is defined as reading or reviewing material on one's own without some form of interaction with colleagues and/or instructors through live Q&A sessions, simultaneous discussion, real time chat or embedded learning prompts.
- I'm a Certified Specialist. How does the CPD Requirement affect me?
  
  Certified Specialists have the same requirement as other licensees.
- Are listservs, online forums and network sites eligible for CPD Hours?
  
  This type of information exchange is not eligible as it does not involve sustained interaction and learning by participants.
- Where can I learn more about the Law Society's decisions about the CPD Requirement?
  
  Please see Continuing Professional Development Requirement to learn more.
Frequently Asked Questions about the CPD Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) Requirement
Frequently Asked Questions about the CPD Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) Requirement
- EDI Requirement and Criteria
  EDI Requirement and Criteria
  - Who is required to complete the CPD Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) Requirement?
    
    While all lawyers and paralegals are encouraged to engage in equality, diversity and inclusion training, only lawyers and paralegals subject to the CPD Requirement are required to complete the CPD EDI Requirement. See the Continuing Professional Development Requirement webpage to determine if you are required to fulfill the CPD Requirement.
  - What is the CPD EDI Requirement?
    
    Between January 1, 2018 and December 31, 2020, lawyers and paralegals subject to the CPD Requirement are required to complete a total of 3 accredited Professionalism Hours that focus on advancing equality, diversity and inclusion in the legal professions. Each year thereafter, lawyers and paralegals must complete 1 Professionalism Hour that addresses issues of equality, diversity and inclusion. These hours count towards their CPD Professionalism Hours requirement.
  - What is the purpose of the CPD EDI Requirement?
    
    The purpose of the mandatory CPD training on equality, diversity and inclusion is to create awareness of the challenges faced by racialized licensees and assist in enhancing diversity and inclusion within all legal workplaces in Ontario. See the Final Report of the Challenges Faced by Racialized Licensees Working Group and its recommendations for more information.
  - Do licensees have to complete accredited programs and activities to fulfill the CPD EDI Requirement?
    
    Yes, Professionalism Hours, including EDI Professionalism Hours, must be accredited by the Law Society.
  - What are the accreditation criteria for EDI Professionalism Hours?
    
    The criteria for EDI Professionalism Hours can be found in the Accreditation Criteria for Professionalism Hours , listed under Professionalism Topics.
  - What are some examples of topics that would qualify for EDI Professionalism Hours?
    
    Programs or alternate activities on the following foundational topics may qualify for EDI Professionalism Hours:
    
    Concepts, themes and terminology related to equality, diversity and inclusion
    
    Historical and demographic context to the challenges to addressing barriers faced by equity-seeking groups
    
    The 94 Calls to Action and themes related to reconciliation arising from the Final Report of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada, including topics that enhance Indigenous cultural competency
    
    Theoretical and practical approaches to the advancement of inclusion and to learning best practices from different sectors and disciplines
    
    Programs and alternate activities addressing equality, diversity and inclusion in the legal workplace are eligible for EDI Professionalism Hours. Sub-topics may include:
    
    How to develop model policies to address the challenges faced by equity-seeking groups
    
    Prevention of discrimination, harassment, sexual harassment and violence in the workplace
    
    Barriers to and best practices for achieving effective communication or collaborative problem solving
    
    Investigation and best practices in response to complaints of discrimination, harassment, sexual harassment and violence in a legal workplace
    
    The role of the Law Society’s Discrimination and Harassment Counsel
    
    The business case for diversity and inclusion
    
    How to develop, implement and measure the success of a diversity and inclusion strategy
    
    Recruitment, hiring, retention and advancement of licensees from equity-seeking groups (e.g., competency-based hiring, bias-free interview procedures, clear career paths)
    
    Creating support systems within and outside the legal workplace (e.g., mentoring, advising, networking, coaching, sponsorship, and opportunities for open discussions about the challenges in addressing barriers faced by equity-seeking groups)
    
    Strategies to support the professional development and advancement of equity-seeking groups, including leadership skills, coaching, mentorship, sponsorship, business development, career opportunities or set-backs
    
    Programs or alternate activities about inclusive leadership are eligible for EDI Professionalism Hours. Inclusive leadership may include the following sub-topics:
    
    Identifying, understanding and resolving one’s own unconscious biases
    
    Recognizing power dynamics
    
    Developing strategies and skills for effective communication, decision making, team building and conflict resolution
    
    Understanding the difference between coaching, advising, mentorship, sponsorship and champions and the impact that these supports have at each stage of professional development
    
    Best practices for coaching, advising, mentoring, sponsoring and championing members of equity-seeking groups
    
    The examples provided above are not exhaustive. Please contact the Law Society’s CPD Accreditation department at cpdacc@lso.ca if you have questions about whether a particular program or alternate activity may qualify for EDI Professionalism Hours.
  - What are some examples of topics that would not qualify for EDI Professionalism Hours?
    
    The following are not eligible for professionalism accreditation under the EDI professionalism criteria:
    
    Complying with obligations arising from the Final Report of the Challenges Faced by Racialized Licensees Working Group (e.g., drafting a Statement of Principles, completing the LAR/PAR or engaging in a self-assessment or data collection).
    
    Running the business of a legal workplace (e.g., the development, implementation and evaluation of the effectiveness of diversity and inclusion strategies)
    
    Substantive law relating to human rights or equality generally (i.e., legislation or case law that does not relate to a lawyer or paralegal’s obligations to members of the public; clients; lawyers, paralegals, support staff in the workplace; or to third party vendors in relation to the practice of law or provision of legal services)
  - Does the EDI professionalism criteria cover content related to all equity-seeking groups?
    
    Yes. While continuing to ensure that the needs of racialized licensees are fully acknowledged and addressed, the recommendations for racialized licensees set out in the Final Report of the Challenges Faced by Racialized Licensees Working Group extend as appropriate to all equity-seeking groups.
  - Does the EDI professionalism criteria cover content related to the Indigenous experience?
    
    Yes. The Law Society is currently implementing an Indigenous Framework, with guidance from the Indigenous Advisory Group to the Law Society, to address unique issues that affect Indigenous licensees, communities and individuals in Ontario and to promote action in relation to the Calls to Action from the Final Report of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada. The EDI professionalism criteria will be reviewed and updated as the Indigenous Framework is implemented.
  - Do programs on “cultural competence” or “cultural awareness” qualify for EDI Professionalism Hours?
    
    Cultural competence training will meet the EDI professionalism criteria where it supports the Law Society’s ongoing commitment to ensure that both the law and the practice of law are reflective of all peoples in Ontario and that the professions are free of discrimination and harassment.
  - Do accredited EDI programs and alternate activities count towards my professionalism CPD requirements for the year?
    
    Yes. Licensees who participate in programs or alternate activities that have been accredited for EDI Professionalism Hours can count these hours towards their CPD Professionalism Hours requirement for the year in which the hours are taken.
  - When am I permitted to begin completing the EDI Requirement?
    
    On January 1, 2018, licensees may begin to meet the EDI Requirement. Programs and alternate activities related to equality, diversity and inclusion that were completed on or before December 31, 2017 do not count towards the completion of the EDI Requirement.
  - Am I required to complete the 3-hour EDI Requirement all at once?
    
    No. Licensees can complete the required 3 EDI Professionalism Hours all at once or the 3 EDI Professionalism Hours can be spread out over the 3-year period.
  - Can I complete the first 3 hours of the EDI Requirement in the final year?
    
    Yes. Licensees have from January 1, 2018 to December 31, 2020 to complete 3 hours of an accredited program focused on equality and inclusion. These hours can be completed and reported at any time within the 3-year period.
  - How will I know whether a program is accredited for EDI Professionalism Hours?
    
    Accredited programs containing EDI Professionalism Hours can be identified by the below logo, which will appear on program marketing materials and agendas. For information on the use of the logo, please reference the Communication Guidelines for Providers.
- Reporting EDI Hours
  Reporting EDI Hours
  - How do I report my EDI Professionalism Hours?
    
    You report your EDI Professionalism Hours in the same way as all other CPD Hours – using the online Law Society Portal.
    
    For more information about entering CPD Hours in the Portal, please see the additional questions and answers below and consult Report Your CPD Hours on the Law Society Portal
  - Since EDI Professionalism Hours are a subset of Professionalism Hours, should I enter EDI Professionalism Hours in both the Professionalism Hours and EDI Hours Portal fields?
    
    No. You should only enter EDI Professionalism Hours in the “EDI Hours” field. You should not enter EDI Professionalism Hours in the “Professionalism Hours” field. In the Portal, the Professionalism Hours field is reserved for Professionalism Hours that are not accredited for EDI. Entering the same hours in both fields will result in the hours being counted twice
  - In the Portal, how do I report attending a program that has been accredited for both Professionalism Hours and EDI Professionalism Hours?
    
    In the Portal, you should enter the EDI Professionalism Hours in the “EDI Hours” field only and you should only enter the Professionalism Hours that are not related to EDI in the “Professionalism Hours” field. For example, if you completed a program with 1 EDI Professionalism Hour and 2 Professionalism Hours, you should enter 2 under “Professionalism Hours” and 1 under “EDI Hours”.
  - Between 2018 and 2020, can I review my completed EDI Professionalism Hours in the Portal?
    
    Yes. In 2018, the Portal will show the EDI Professionalism Hours that you have entered for the year. In 2019 and 2020, if you need to confirm the number of EDI Professionalism Hours that you entered in a previous year, you will be able to access these entries through the tabs at the top of the page by year.
  - How are excess EDI Professionalism Hours applied?
    
    Any EDI Professionalism Hours reported in the Portal in excess of the 3 EDI Professionalism Hours that are required between 2018-2020 or the 1 EDI Professionalism Hour required each year from 2021 onward will be automatically applied to the lawyer or paralegal’s Professionalism Hours requirement for the reporting year. This is because EDI Professionalism Hours are a subset of Professionalism Hours.
    
    Any Professionalism Hours that have been entered into the Portal in excess of the 3 Professionalism Hours required each year will be automatically applied to the lawyer or paralegal's Substantive Hours requirement for that reporting year.
    
    It is important to note that Substantive Hours entered into the Portal in excess of the required 9 Substantive Hours will not be applied to the lawyer or paralegal's Professionalism Hours or EDI Professionalism Hours requirement.
  - What is the CPD EDI Requirement for lawyers or paralegals who are not in practice or providing legal services for all three years of the initial CPD EDI Requirement (2018-2020) or who do not practise or provide legal services for part of a reporting year thereafter?
    
    You are encouraged to participate in CPD EDI Professionalism programming or alternate activities. However, only lawyers or paralegals who are in a 100% fee-paying category, who practise law or provide legal services, who provide legal services on a pro bono basis only or who are practising Life Members are required to fulfill the CPD EDI Requirement.
    
    The CPD EDI Requirement is prorated in the same way as Substantive or other Professionalism Hours. Lawyers are required to complete 45 minutes of Substantive CPD and 15 minutes of Professionalism CPD for each month or partial month in which they have a CPD requirement. Of the 15 minutes of Professionalism CPD required for each month or partial month in which the lawyer or paralegal has a CPD Requirement, a lawyer or paralegal’s CPD EDI Requirement is equal to 5 minutes. To calculate a lawyer or paralegal’s CPD EDI Requirement, the lawyer or paralegal should multiply the number of months (including partial months) in which they had a CPD Requirement by 5 minutes.
    
    EDI Professionalism Hours will be prorated in this way for both the initial three-year period (2018-2020) and annually thereafter.
  - Could you provide an example of how prorating a lawyer or paralegal’s CPD requirement (including EDI Professionalism Hours) works?
    
    Consider a lawyer who is on a leave of absence from practice from January 1 to May 28, 2018 and returns to practice from May 29, 2018 to December 31, 2020.
    
    Even if a lawyer only practises for a partial month, the lawyer is subject to the full CPD Requirement for that month.
    
    As a result, in this case:
    
    The lawyer will have a CPD Requirement for 32 months total from 2018-2020 (8 months for 2018, 12 months for 2019 and 12 months for 2020).
    
    The lawyer’s CPD Requirement for 2018 will be 8 months multiplied by 45 minutes for Substantive CPD and 15 minutes for Professionalism CPD, which equals 6 Substantive Hours and 2 Professionalism Hours.
    
    The lawyer’s CPD Requirement for 2019 and 2020 will be 12 months for each of 2019 and 2020 (24 months total). Thus, the lawyer will be required to complete 9 Substantive Hours and 3 Professionalism Hours per year.
    
    The lawyer’s CPD EDI Requirement for 2018-2020 will be 32 months multiplied by 5 minutes, which equals 2 hours and 40 minutes. These EDI Professionalism Hours can be completed at any time from 2018-2020 and are included in the required Professionalism Hours from 2018-2020.
- EDI and Accredited Providers
  EDI and Accredited Providers
  - Do Accredited Providers of Professionalism Content need to apply for accreditation of EDI professionalism content where it is included in their programming?
    
    No. Accredited Providers can deliver CPD programs containing EDI professionalism content without applying for accreditation of such content. However, Accredited Providers must ensure, as with all other professionalism content, that the EDI content included in the program is aligned with the Accreditation Criteria for Professionalism Hours .
    
    Accredited Providers should contact the Law Society’s CPD Accreditation department at cpdacc@lso.ca with any questions about whether a particular program qualifies for EDI Professionalism Hours.
  - Can Accredited Providers of Professionalism Content accredit programs that were delivered prior to the introduction of the new CPD EDI Requirement and that fall within the accreditation criteria for Equality, Diversity and Inclusion?
    Yes. Accredited Providers who previously delivered a CPD professionalism program containing EDI content identified under the Accreditation Criteria for Professionalism Hours and who wish to continue to deliver it in 2018 and onwards (e.g., in an on-demand format), may indicate (in accordance with the Communication Guidelines for Providers) that the program contains EDI Professionalism Hours.
Frequently Asked Questions about Professionalism Case Studies for CPD
Frequently Asked Questions about Professionalism Case Studies for CPD
- What is a Professionalism Case Study?
  
  A Professionalism Case Study is a description of an actual situation in which a lawyer or paralegal is faced with a decision involving one or more ethical, professional responsibility or practice management issues.
- Are the Professionalism Case Studies relevant to all practice areas?
  
  Each Professionalism Case Study is set within a specific practice area, including Business, Civil Litigation, Criminal, Family, Labour, Personal Injury, Real Estate, Small Claims Court Litigation, Wills and Estates, and Workplace Safety and Insurance. The professional responsibility, ethics and practice management issues addressed in the Professionalism Case Studies are common to all areas of practice.
- What can I learn from a Professionalism Case Study?
  
  A Professionalism Case Study allows you to put yourself in the position of the lawyer or paralegal in the case to identify the problem, develop alternatives, and create an action plan for resolving the issues in accordance with your professional obligations under the Rules of Professional Conduct or The Paralegal Rules of Conduct.
- How can I use a Professionalism Case Study?
  
  Professionalism Case Studies can be used as the basis for group discussion in a variety of settings.
  
  Lawyers and paralegals may use Professionalism Case Studies as the basis for one-hour Study Group sessions. The Law Society strongly recommends that a facilitator be used to guide the Study Group sessions. For information and resources on facilitating a Study Group session, please contact the Law Society at rc@lso.ca.
  
  Continuing Professional Development (CPD) providers, including firms, and law or paralegal associations, may use Professionalism Case Studies in programs that contain content involving professional responsibility, ethics and practice management.
- Are the Professionalism Case Studies eligible for CPD accreditation?
  
  Professionalism Case Studies are only eligible for accreditation when they are used in the context of Study Group sessions or programs involving two or more lawyers or paralegals. The Study Group session must be accredited in advance by the Law Society of Upper Canada.
  
  If you are a lawyer or paralegal who seeks to organize an accredited Study Group session, you must apply for accreditation at least 30 days in advance of the session date by submitting an Application for Accreditation - Alternate Eligible Educational Activities (PDF).
  
  If you are a CPD provider who seeks accreditation for a program in which a Professionalism Case Study will be used, you must apply for accreditation at least 30 days in advance of the program by submitting an Application for Program Accreditation (PDF) .
- Can I use the Professionalism Case Studies to fulfil my CPD professionalism requirement?
  
  If you are the facilitator of a Professionalism Case Study Group session that has been accredited by the Law Society, you may count up to three hours of CPD credit for every hour of facilitation or teaching toward your annual CPD requirement.
  If you are a participant in a Professionalism Case Study session or program, you may count the hours that have been accredited by the Law Society toward your annual CPD requirement.
- Does the Law Society provide any guides or other resources for facilitators of Professionalism Case Study Group sessions?
  
  Guides and other resources are available to lawyers and paralegals who wish to facilitate accredited Professionalism Case Study Group sessions. To request a Facilitator’s Guide or for more information, please contact the Law Society at rc@lso.ca
Frequently Asked Questions about CPD Accreditation
Frequently Asked Questions about the CPD Accreditation Process
- Do lawyers and paralegals have to complete accredited programs and activities to fulfill the CPD Requirement?
  
  Yes. Licensees are required to complete 12 CPD Hours, consisting of a minimum of 3 Professionalism Hours (including 1 EDI Professional Hour) and up to 9 Substantive Hours per calendar year.
  
  Professionalism Hours must be accredited by the Law Society. Substantive hours do not require accreditation.
- If a program focuses on substantive or procedural law, do providers have to apply for accreditation?
  
  No. Substantive content does not require accreditation. However, on an annual basis, licensees should conduct their own assessment and confirm that the CPD programs or eligible activities that they pursue maintain or enhance their professional knowledge, skills, and attitudes in the context of their practice and professional development.
  
  If a program focusing on substantive or procedural law includes professionalism content on related topics and issues, that portion of the program may be eligible for Professionalism Hours.
  
  Examples:
  
  A program on developments in corporate/commercial law could contain content on one or more of the following professionalism topics: managing client expectations in a commercial transaction, identifying and managing conflicts of interest, billing the corporate client, or marketing your corporate and commercial expertise to clients.
  
  A program on custody and access in family law matters could contain content on one or more of the following professionalism topics: client identification, managing the difficult client, dealing with the self-represented party and risk management.
  
  A series of programs on special needs trusts could include content on communicating with clients with diminished capacity.
- How do I apply for accreditation?
  
  Visit our CPD Accreditation Platform to apply for Accreditation of Professionalism Hours (including EDI Professionalism) for programs and activities. You can also use our CPD Accreditation Platform to view and track the status of your application(s).
  
  Please note that only Applications for Accreditation of Programs and Activities can be submitted on our CPD Accreditation Platform. If you are seeking Accredited Provider of Professionalism Content Status and would like to learn more, please see Accredited Provider Framework.
- Have the accreditation application forms changed?
  
  Yes, the accreditation application forms for both programs and activities have transitioned from PDF applications to a new, easy-to-use online application platform. The new CPD Application Platform will allow you to quickly complete your application(s), upload supporting documentation, and track the status of your application(s). Please note that this change only applies to Applications for Program and Activity Accreditation. There have been no changes to the Accredited Provider Framework.
- What is the minimum amount of time that will be considered for accreditation?
  
  Programs and activities must contain a minimum of 15 minutes of professionalism content to qualify for accreditation.
- How are CPD Hours calculated?
  
  Professionalism Hours are calculated based on actual time spent on professionalism topics in a program or activity. For example, where a program contains 1 hour of professionalism content, the program will be accredited for 1 Professionalism Hour.
- Will a CPD program qualify for accreditation if it is viewed as a webcast?
  
  Yes. Programs may be delivered in a variety of flexible formats, including live lecture, discussion, demonstration, small-group workshop, interactive online course, audio and webcast (either live or archived). There is no annual maximum number of hours that can be claimed for these methods of viewing programs.
- Is it possible to obtain accreditation for the professionalism content of a program on an expedited basis?
  
  You may request special consideration and explain your reasons on the application. Special consideration will only be granted to programs that provide licensees with timely information on significant changes in the law. To enable the Law Society to review the expedited program, the program must be scheduled for at least three business days after the application is submitted. Applications that do not qualify for expedited review will be reviewed within standard processing timelines. The Law Society cannot guarantee that an assessment will be complete prior to the program date.
- May I submit one application for the professionalism content of more than one program or activity?
  
  No, a separate application is required for the professionalism content of each program or activity for which you seek accreditation. Only one application is required for the professionalism content of programs or activities with related subject matter that are presented as a series.
- When can I expect to receive a response from the Law Society to my application?
  
  The Law Society will respond within 15 business days from the initial receipt of an application. Accreditation may be delayed if the application is incomplete or if more information is required.
- How long is accreditation valid for?
  
  Accreditation is valid as long as the content is current, relevant, and aligned with the Accreditation Criteria. Providers must routinely review and, where applicable, update their archived content to ensure their content is current, relevant and aligned with the Accreditation Criteria. Re-application is only required where material updates are made to content.
- What if the content or timing of my program or activity changes after the program has been accredited?
  
  If the program or activity title or timing has changed, providers should notify the Law Society as soon as possible so that we can update our records. If the professionalism content of the program or activity has changed significantly, a new application is required. Otherwise, you do not need to reapply for accreditation. The original accreditation will still apply.
- How will the Law Society monitor my program or activity?
  
  The Law Society may conduct random requests for program or activity materials and/or in person program or activity audits to ensure alignment with the Accreditation Criteria. The Law Society may also audit providers' registration records for the purpose of determining licensee compliance with the CPD Requirement.
  
  In addition, the Law Society will audit licensees to verify completion of CPD Hours. Please see Record Keeping Standards - Evidence of Compliance with Section 4 of By-Law 6.1 (PDF) for more information on required documentation according to the type of eligible educational activity.
Frequently Asked Questions about Accreditation of EDI Content
Accreditation of EDI Content
- What are the accreditation criteria for EDI Professionalism Hours?
  
  The criteria for EDI Professionalism Hours can be found in the Accreditation Criteria for Professionalism Hours, listed under Professionalism Topics.
  
  Examples of topics that may or will be eligible for accreditation as EDI Professionalism Hours are found on the Frequently Asked Questions about the CPD EDI Requirement.
  
  Programs must contain a minimum of 15 minutes of EDI professionalism content to qualify for accreditation.
- What is the Law Society’s approach to accreditation of programs or alternate activities under the EDI professionalism criteria?
  
  The Law Society has adopted a flexible and iterative approach to EDI Professionalism Hours to ensure that the objectives of the Working Group set out in the Final Report of the Challenges Faced by Racialized Licensees Working Group are supported. The Working Group identified three objectives:
  
  (1) Inclusive legal workplaces in Ontario;
  (2) Reduction of barriers created by racism, unconscious bias and discrimination; and
  (3) Better representation of racialized licensees, in proportion to the representation in the Ontario population, in the professions, in all legal workplaces and at all levels of seniority.
  
  Programs that advance equality, diversity and inclusion in the professions or that support progress towards the objectives identified will qualify for EDI Professionalism Hours.
- What is the process for accreditation of EDI programs and activities?
  
  The process for accreditation of EDI programs and activities is the same as the process for accrediting other professionalism content. For information about the application process and timelines for accrediting professionalism content see D. Frequently Asked Questions – Accreditation Process.
- Can providers have previously accredited CPD programs re-accredited for EDI Professionalism Hours?
  
  Yes, providers whose CPD program was accredited by the Law Society for Professionalism Hours prior to December 31, 2017 may apply to have the program re-accredited to take into account the part or parts of the program that focus on EDI topics.
- What is the process for re-accreditation of professionalism content under the EDI criteria?
  
  To apply for re-accreditation of EDI professionalism content, providers must submit a completed copy of the Application for Re-accreditation – Program (PDF) at any time prior to or following the program. Applications must be completed and submitted no later than 30 days prior to the program date in order to facilitate re-accreditation in advance of the delivery of the program.
  
  As with all other accreditation applications, the Law Society will review the Re-accreditation Application for completeness and notify you as to whether or not the content of your program has been re-accredited for EDI Professionalism Hours. The Law Society will endeavour to respond within 15 business days from the initial receipt of a completed Re-Accreditation Application. Accreditation may be delayed if the Re-accreditation Application is incomplete or if more information is required.
- Where can I find more information about the CPD EDI Requirement?
  The Law Society has developed Frequently Asked Questions about the CPD EDI Requirement. These FAQs explain who must complete the EDI Requirement, what the Requirement is, when the Requirement must be completed, and how lawyers and paralegals will be able to identify programs containing EDI content.
Frequently Asked Questions about the Accredited Provider Framework
- What is the Accredited Provider Framework?
  The Law Society offers an accredited provider framework for CPD programs. Under this framework, providers can apply to obtain Accredited Provider of Professionalism Content status which allows them to deliver professionalism content in CPD programs and courses without seeking accreditation from the Law Society. See Accredited Provider Framework for more information.

Terms or Concepts Explained

FAQs

EDI and Accredited Providers