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Once upon a time, somewhere, someone in a self-regulating professional trade body conceived the worry that by the daily practice of one’s professional calling in a live environment, an [[Mediocre lawyer|attorney]] might grow stale, out of touch and dangerously unlearned in the ways of {{sex|her}} calling. A counter-intuitive idea, but there you have it: it is a good thing for people to challenge orthodoxy. | Once upon a time, somewhere, someone in a self-regulating professional trade body conceived the worry that by the daily practice of one’s professional calling in a live environment, an [[Mediocre lawyer|attorney]] might grow stale, out of touch and dangerously unlearned in the ways of {{sex|her}} calling. A counter-intuitive idea, but there you have it: it is a good thing for people to challenge orthodoxy. | ||
So was born “[[continuing professional development]]”, a stipulation whereby [[Mediocre lawyer|solicitors]] must periodically re-educate themselves on germane issues. It is not greatly onerous | So was born “[[continuing professional development]]”, a stipulation whereby [[Mediocre lawyer|solicitors]] must periodically re-educate themselves on germane issues. It is not greatly onerous — a few hours, spread over a year, is all you need — though across an entire profession that is no small demand on total capability. Law firms beheld a great marketing opportunity: a jaunty breakfast seminar for their in-house clients, followed by [[networking]]: a chance to renew acquaintances over a salmon bagel. | ||
Make no mistake: free bacon sandwiches are great. Most jobbing solicitors need no more incentive than that. If the room is suitably large and dark there is scope for a few winks. ([[Freshfields]] London has an excellently dingy auditorium, by the way, in which one can snooze unobserved in the back four rows). In brighter forums it is a chance to catch up on Twitter, [[LinkedIn]] or follow the [[cricket]]. In all other ways it is a total waste of time. | |||
Of course, there is no practical means of ensuring a [[CPD]] hour is remotely vocational, useful, or relevant, much less that one has spent any part of the hour actually paying attention to it. | Of course, there is no practical means of ensuring a [[CPD]] hour is remotely vocational, useful, or relevant, much less that one has spent any part of the hour actually paying attention to it. |