What is substantive law CPD?

Are you a lawyer or law student in Australia looking to brush up on your knowledge? Well, you’re in luck because today we’re talking about substantive law CPD! But before we dive in, let’s make sure we’re all on the same page.

CPD stands for Continuing Professional Development. It’s a requirement for all lawyers in Australia to complete a certain number of CPD hours each year. This is to ensure that everyone in the legal field stays up to date on the latest laws and best practices.

Now, let’s talk about substantive law CPD specifically. This type of legal CPD focuses on the actual laws and regulations that govern our society. It’s all about the nitty-gritty details of the legal system and how it affects real people and real cases. In other words, it’s the meat and potatoes of the legal field. 

Now, let’s compare that to some other legal phrases you mentioned. “Ethics” are more like the rules of how lawyers are supposed to behave, especially the Legal Profession Uniform Law in New South Wales. “Professional skills” is all about making sure lawyers are maintaining the skills they need to succeed no matter what substantive area they’re in, like interviewing new clients, drafting legal documents or appearing in court. “Practice management and business skills” is the business side of being a lawyer, like how to run a law firm. 

A real-world example of “substantive law” would be the new criminal law that makes coercive control an offence in New South Wales. We took a deep-dive into this law on a recent episode of the podcast with Andrew Tiedt.

But why is it important to keep up with substantive law CPD? Well, for starters, the law is constantly changing. New laws are passed, old ones are repealed, and interpretations of existing laws can shift. By keeping up with substantive law CPD, you’ll be able to advise your clients with the most current information and give them the best chance of success in their case.

Another important aspect of substantive law CPD is staying up to date on new developments in specific areas of law. For example, if you specialise in criminal law, it’s important to stay informed on new criminal legislation and court decisions that may affect your clients. By completing substantive law CPD, you can ensure that you are the expert in your field and able to give the best advice to your clients.

Remember, keeping up with substantive law CPD is important for both you and your clients. It ensures that you are current on the laws and regulations that govern our society and can give the best advice to those you serve. So, don’t procrastinate, get started on your legal CPD today!