FAQs for Providers
1. What is the estimated number of lawyers regulated under the CPD Scheme?
A: For CPD Year 2024, an estimated 6600 lawyers (comprising roughly 2600 Group 1 Lawyers, 1600 Group 2 Lawyers, 2400 Group 3 Lawyers and 43 s36B Foreign Lawyers) will be required to undertake CPD Activities.
2. If a Provider provides e-learning videos, how will these be classified?
A: These e-learning videos will be considered as Non-accredited CPD Activities and participants are only able to obtain Private CPD points for viewing such videos.
3. If a Provider runs private events for law firms, how are such events classified?
A: Such events are classified as Non-accredited CPD Activities and the participants can only obtain Private CPD Points.
4. What is an overseas event organised by a Provider considered?
A: An overseas event is considered a Non-accredited CPD Activity.
5. What are the guidelines for instructors of Accredited CPD Activities?
A: The instructors would need to be appropriately qualified, whether by academic qualifications or demonstrated experience in the relevant area of practice.
6. A Provider organises an event that may also be attended by the general public. Can such an event be considered an Accredited CPD Activity?
A: As long as the criteria for a CPD Activity are met, the event can be considered an Accredited CPD Activity. However, it should be noted that an event which is also open to non-lawyers may not necessarily meet the criteria if the level of the event is pitched too low.
7. Why does the SILE need all the event materials for the event to be accredited?
A: The Accreditation Committee needs to review all event materials to evaluate if the event meets the criteria for a CPD Activity and determine how many CPD Points a lawyer can obtain from attending the activity.
8. What constitutes a valid attendance by a lawyer?
A: The Attendance Policy as stated in the CPD Rules and Guidelines must be met.
9. For a conference, how should attendance be accounted for?
A: At the minimum, participants should be asked to sign in at the start of each day and sign out at the end of the day. If the event is accredited by segment, then participants should be asked to sign in at the start of each segment and sign out at the end of the segment. With effect from 1 January 2017, for a multi-day conference, the Attendance Policy must be complied with in respect of each day of the conference, i.e., participants may avail of the 15-minute grace period for each day of the conference.
10. Can speakers obtain CPD Points for speaking, teaching or participating in a panel of discussion in a conference, lecture or seminar?
A: For CPD Year 2023, Group 1, Group 2 and Group 3 Lawyers, and s36B Foreign Lawyers can obtain CPD Points for speaking, teaching or participating in a panel discussion in any conference, lecture, seminar or workshop which deals with matters relating to the practice of the law.
11. Can a lawyer obtain CPD Points for both participating and speaking at the same Accredited CPD Activity?
A: No, he/she can only obtain CPD Points either as a participant or a speaker.
12. Why is there a need for the Course Evaluation form?
A: This is one of the ways to allow the SILE to monitor the quality of the programmes conducted by a Provider.
13. If a Provider runs a course throughout the year, how often will it need to submit the course evaluation summary?
A: The Provider will need to submit the course evaluation summary after each run of the event.
14. If a Provider runs the same course a few times throughout the year, how often will it need to submit the course descriptions, outlines etc. to the SILE for accreditation?
A: The Provider will still need to apply for each repeat run to be accredited.
15. When is the latest date by which the Provider must submit its event to SILE for accreditation?
A: Providers are required to submit their request for accreditation at least 6 weeks (and preferably 8 weeks) before the start of the event, as the accreditation process itself may take up to two weeks (provided that all the information is in order).