BDLA CPD Event (3 points)

***** POSTPONED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE *****

Many of you probably received the LIV’s email on Tuesday afternoon advising that it was cancelling all face-to-face CPD events for the foreseeable future. Given the BDLA operates under the LIV’s auspices, and conscious of doing our bit to limit the opportunity for Coronavirus to spread, we have made the very difficult decision to postpone this Thursday’s CPD event. A new date will be selected once the dust settles on the current situation but, alas, that will undoubtedly be after 31 March.

 

We sincerely apologise for any inconvenience this may cause to those who have registered.  

 

Refunds will be arranged as soon as possible.

 

What to do if you still need points before 31 March?

 

We are acutely aware that some members may have been relying on Thursday’s event to satisfy their CPD requirements for the year. Thankfully, the VLSB has removed its cap on the number of points that can be obtained through private study. Here is the advice we received from the LIV this afternoon:

 

In these special circumstances, the Victorian Legal Services Board (VLSB) understands that solicitors may need to complete more than 5 of their CPD units through private study of audio/visual material. This means that for the 2019-20 CPD year only, the VLSB will not be enforcing the 5-unit cap on private study of audio/visual material as set out in the Legal Profession Uniform Continuing Professional Development (Solicitors) Rules 2015 (CPD rules). 

 

Details to note:

• The audio/visual material used for private study must be specifically designed for the purpose of updating a solicitor’s knowledge and/or skills relevant to his/her practice (CPD rule 8.2). 
• Solicitors are already permitted to complete an unlimited number of units of ‘web-based programming’ under the CPD rules. Web-based programming is different to private study of audio/visual material because it takes place in real time or involves an interactive element such as a discussion group.

 

I also refer you to the Rules and our website for further information about CPD requirements.

Need an Ethics point?

Members may also be aware that the LIV offers a free online seminar on Ethics which is available here: https://www.liv.asn.au/CPD-Networking/Education/LIVing-Ethics-2020-VIDEOS

 

Need a Practice Management point?

Further, Commerce Ballarat are hosting a free 30 minute online webinar tomorrow afternoon on Workplace Relations implications of Coronavirus, which I will be presenting. The video can be live-streamed via Commerce Ballarat’s Facebook page or reviewed afterwards. A similar webinar will be offered the following week which will be presented by HR consultants Inspire HQ. The two sessions combined will qualify for one point of Practice Management CPD.

 

Need anything else (apart from a stiff drink)?

For any other missing points, we would suggest that members avail themselves of the resources available in the LIV library, such as Audio CDs available for hire: http://library.liv.asn.au/resultsCat.jsp?query=sound+education

 

The LIV have also invited any members concerned they will not be able to complete their CPD requirements by the end of this month to email them at compliance@liv.asn.au

 

Once again, on behalf of the BDLA, we sincerely apologise for any inconvenience caused and thank you for your understanding.

The BDLA is very pleased to invite its members to an afternoon of CPD on Thursday 19 March 2020, which will cover the mandatory areas of Professional Skills, Practice Management and Ethics, just in time for the annual cut-off date.

The speakers/presenters and their topics are as follows:

Patrick Barry, State Chambers, NSW - 'Duties under the Occupational Health and Safety Act: Considerations for law firms now that our industry is under the regulator’s spotlight '

Panel discussion of Sarah Lia, Stacey Grose, Georgia Yanner - 'Community Boards: What lawyers can offer them and what they can offer lawyers' (Professional Skills)

Scott Morris, Victorian Bar & John Leung, Victorian Bar - 'A robust exchange or something more: The line between legitimate advocacy and professional misconduct' & 'Clients: When and how to sack them' (Ethics)