The Western Australian Bar Association (WABA) seeks to support, promote and encourage the independence of practising solely as a barrister and is committed to promoting the highest standards of competence and ethical practice. It works in the interests of members by providing education and training that is tailored to meet the needs of practising as an independent barrister.
 
 

Continuing Professional Development (CPD)

 

The WABA is approved as a QA Provider of CPD activities by the Legal Practice Board.  Attendance at CPD events conducted by the WABA qualifies participants to CPD points for the purpose of satisfying requirements under Legal Profession Regulations 2009 made pursuant to the Legal Profession Act 2008.

 
Further information about  WABA's CPD programmes may be found under the specific course/activity.
 
 

Requirements under the Legal Profession Rules 2009 (Rules)

 

Division 2 of the Rules sets out the requirements for CPD, a brief outline of which is set out below:

Rule 8(1) of  provides:

"A local practising certificate that takes effect on or after 1 July 2009 is subject to the condition that the local legal practitioner must earn 10 CPD points during the certificate year."

Rule 10(2), (3) and (4) provides that practitioners are required to accumulate 10 CPD points by completing approved CPD activities across the following three competency areas -

  • Competency Area 1  -  Legal Skills or Practice
  • Competency Area 2  -  Ethics or Professional Responsibility
  • Competency Area 3  -  Substantive Law

 

Approved CPD activity (rule 7 of the Rules) means:

(a)     a professional development activity provided by a QA provider; or
(b)    a professional development activity approved under rule 15"

 

An experienced practitioner (rule 10(1) of the Rules) means:

"A local legal practitioner is an experienced practitioner for a certificate year if, at the beginning of that year, the practitioner had been engaged in legal practice for at least 5 years."

 

CPD Point Requirements (rule 10(6) and (7) of the Rules)

  • A local legal practitioner who is not an experienced practitioner must earn:

(a)    at least 4 CPD points that are within competency area 1; and

(b)    at least 4 CPD points that are within competency area 2.

  • A local legal practitioner who is an experienced practitioner must earn:

(a)    at least 2 CPD points that are within competency area 1; and

(b)    at least 2 CPD points that are within competency area 2.

 

CPD Points (rule 12 of the Rules)

Interactive activity

Participant: 0.5 points for each complete 30 minutes
Presenter: 1.5 points for each complete 30 minutes
Commentator: 1 point for each complete 30 minutes
Chair: 0.5 points for each complete 30 minutes

Individual CPD activity other than publication activity

As participant 0.5 points for each complete 60 minutes

 

Further information about CPD requirements may be found: