Legal Technology Journal

The Chancery Bar Association (the ChBA), in connection with CPDcast.com, has introduced an innovative feature of  the Association’s New Practitioners’ Programme for young barristers whereby members of the Association  can gain CPD points for listening and/or recording a podcast on the CPDcast website.

CPDcast.com was launched in Autumn 2007 and allows solicitors, barristers and other legal professionals to fulfil some of their annual CPD obligation by listening to professionally recorded podcasts about their chosen area of law. CPDcast is fully accredited by the SRA and the Bar Standards Board and aims to provide an efficient and user friendly way of keeping up to date with the latest legal developments while gaining CPD points.

The ChBA is the representative body for some [1,050] specialist Chancery practitioners and is encouraging all their barristers on the New Practitioner Programme to listen to the podcasts to enhance and support their continuing professional development. These podcasts will add a new dimension to the New Practitioners’ Programme which currently consists of a series of informal and interactive workshops aimed at pupils and junior Chancery practitioners up to seven years call.

All ChBA members can access and download the podcasts for free, enabling them to listen to helpful and educational information and advice wherever they are located.

The new alliance also means that the ChBA practitioners’ specialist knowledge is disseminated to other barristers and lawyers – and the wider public.

Michael Todd QC, Chairman of the Chancery Bar Association, said:

“This is a unique collaboration for the Chancery Bar Association.  The work of the Chancery Bar is both diverse and increasing. This innovative step is therefore both timely and important for the Association’s continuing education programme, and, in particular, for its New Practitioner Programme. We encourage all our more recently qualified members  to listen to and record a podcast on CPDcast.com. It is a good way of achieving CPD points and provides worthwhile development training.”

Daniel Mohacek, Managing Director of CPDcast.com, said:

“We are really pleased to be working with the Chancery Bar Association on this exciting tie-up. They cover some fascinating material in the NPP seminars, but the pressures of practice means that not everybody can attend all of the seminars. Now, simply by visiting CPDcast.com all members of the Chancery Bar can listen to these fascinating podcasts at a time and place that suits them. What’s more – they also get CPD points for listening.”