Bar Standards Board
New Practitioner Program
CPD for barristers during their first 3 years of practice
During their first three full years in practice, barristers must comply with the CPD rules within the New Practitioner Programme (NPP).
How do members of the practising Bar demonstrate their competence?
To make sure that barristers continue to meet the requirements of the Professional Statement and continue to develop relevant knowledge and skills, barristers are required to undertake Continuing Professional Development in accordance with the BSB’s CPD Scheme.
During their first three full years in practice, barristers must comply with the CPD rules within the New Practitioner Programme (NPP) before moving on to the Established Practitioner Programme. The CPD rules are contained in Part 4 of the BSB Handbook.
What is required on the NPP?
During your first three full calendar years of practice, you are required to undertake 45 hours of CPD, consisting of:
- at least 9 hours of advocacy; and
- at least 3 hours of professional ethics.
This three-year period is treated as beginning from the 1 January in the calendar year after you first started practising as a barrister.
Your CPD activity should be recorded on an NPP Record Card and kept for at least three years after the completion of your NPP period. The BSB recommend that you take a structured approach to your CPD during these three years and avoid leaving all of your required CPD until the end of the final year. Responsibility for CPD rests with the individual barrister and is not a matter for their chambers or employer to organise.
You will need to declare that you are keeping up with your CPD each year when you renew your Practising Certificate as part of the Authorisation to Practise process. Whilst you are not required to routinely submit your NPP record, you may be selected for a spot check and requested to submit your NPP Record Card to the BSB.
Where can I find courses to meet the NPP requirements?
The Inns and the Circuits provide courses for barristers to meet their NPP advocacy and ethics requirements. For NPP purposes, you are not obliged to attend training at your own Inn or Circuit.
The Circuits and Inns run several courses each year. Please check their websites for information.
Quick links
The Young Bar (Bar Council)