Guide to The Law Society of Singapore's Voluntary Minimum Continuing Professional Development Scheme ("vMCPD")  for External Training Providers
(Version issued 17 February 2005; updated 24 December 2007)
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Thank you for your interest in becoming an Approved Training Provider or having your course recognised by the Law Society as an Approved Training Course for the purpose of vMCPD.

This Guide contains details of the criteria and procedures for approval of your application, as well as the terms and conditions to be complied with by all Approved Training Providers and providers of Approved Training Courses for the purpose of vMCPD.

For feedback or enquiries, please contact the Director of Training & CPD at 6530 0239 or cpd@lawsoc.org.sg.

Read more about CPD at the Law Society here.
ABOUT VOLUNTARY MINIMUM CONTINUING PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT ("VMCPD")
  The Society launched vMCPD for its practitioner members on 1 April 2005. vMCPD is a voluntary pilot project intended to prepare the Society and its practitioner members for the future implementation of a compulsory or mandatory CPD scheme for the profession.

The key objectives of vMCPD are:
 
a. to test and develop a framework for a mandatory or compulsory CPD scheme; and
b. to enable the Society and the profession to gradually gear up and prepare for such a mandatory or compulsory CPD scheme.

During vMCPD, there are no mandatory standards or reporting requirements to be met by the Society’s practitioner members, only Best Practice Guidelines relating to participation in formal CPD activities that the Society recommends its practitioner members adhere to.

The Society recognises that one key challenge during vMCPD is ensuring the availability of a wide range of high quality CPD programs relevant to the Society’s members who practise in diverse areas of law. To ensure such availability, the Society will with effect from March 2005 accept applications from training providers to become Approved Training Providers, or to provide Approved Training Courses, for the Society’s vMCPD scheme.
BENEFITS OF BEING AN APPROVED TRAINING PROVIDER
  As an Approved Training Provider for vMCPD, you enjoy the following benefits for a one-year period from approval (or such other period as may be approved by the Society):
 
a. You will be listed on the Society’s CPD website as an Approved Training Provider upon approval.
b. Once you have been confirmed as an Approved Training Provider, your courses will be included in the CPD Event Calendar on the Society’s CPD website within 10 working days of being notified to the Training Department.
c. The courses you have notified to the Training Department will be assigned CPD Hours according to the “Members’ Guide to The Law Society of Singapore’s Voluntary Minimum Continuing Professional Development Scheme”.
d. During vMCPD, aside from a nominal administration fee, all accreditation charges for being an Approved Training Provider will be waived. However, all charges may be reviewed by the Society from time to time.

Renewal of your status as an Approved Training Provider after the initial period will be at the discretion of the Society, and subject to such terms and conditions as it may impose.
BENEFITS OF HAVING AN APPROVED TRAINING COURSE
  As a provider of Approved Training Courses for vMCPD, you enjoy the following benefits:
 
a. Your Approved Training Course will be included in the CPD Event Calendar on the Society’s CPD website within 10 working days of approval.
b. Your Approved Training Course will be assigned CPD Hours according to the “Members’ Guide to The Law Society of Singapore’s Voluntary Minimum Continuing Professional Development Scheme”.
c. During vMCPD, aside from a nominal administration fee, all accreditation charges for being an Approved Training Course will be waived. However, all charges may be reviewed by the Society from time to time.

APPLICATION PROCEDURES
a. Types of Applications

There are 2 types of applications that external training providers may make to the Society’s Training Department:
 
  i. To be an Approved Training Provider:
 
1. Only a one-time application is required.
2. A non-refundable administration fee of S$50.00 plus prevailing GST is payable.
3. Upon approval as an Approved Training Provider, all your courses will be recognised by the Society as approved for the purposes of its vMCPD scheme and those notified to the Training Department will be assigned CPD Hours.
4. The disclosure requirements and pre-requisites that the Society imposes will necessarily be higher for Approved Training Providers than for non-approved training providers of Approved Training Courses. You will be required to provide information that includes the following:
  a. Information on your company or business
b. Background and history in training business
c. Information on your management team
d. Information on your speakers/lecturers/trainers
e. Information on three recently conducted courses including
    i. Programs/brochures with details on speakers, course content, structure, start and end time, amount of time spent on each section/part
    ii. A full set of the course materials for participants (including any lecture notes, exercises, handouts, case studies, worksheets)
  f. Two references from past attendees of your courses.

  ii. To be recognised as an Approved Training Course:
 
1. One application form is required per course.
2. A non-refundable administration fee of S$30.00 plus prevailing GST is payable per application.
3. Upon approval, the approved course will be recognised by the Society as approved for the purposes of its vMCPD scheme and assigned CPD Hours.
4. You will be required to provide information that includes the following:
  a. A copy of the course program setting out course aims and objectives, content, structure, start and end time, amount of time spent on each section/part
b. Detailed CVs of speakers/lecturers/ trainers (including name, qualifications, experience, and topic covered)
c. A set of course materials (including any lecture notes, exercises, handouts, case studies, worksheets)
d. Pre-requisites for entry (if any) into this course
e. Sample course evaluation form (if different from Law Society’s prescribed form).

b. Application to be an Approved Training Provider
   
Step 1: Download the prescribed Application Form or submit your application online.
Step 2: Submit the completed Form together with your cheque payment of the administration fee of $50.00 plus prevailing GST and all required supporting documents to the Training Department.
Step 3:

The Training Department will follow up with you should it require any clarifications on your Form or any information provided.
Step 4:

You will hear from us on whether your application has been successful within 4 weeks of our receipt of all information requested.

Please note that as a general policy, we will not approve any course or assign CPD Hours to a course after it has taken place. Hence, please ensure that your application to be an Approved Training Provider reaches us at least 6 weeks prior to the 1st course for which you wish to have CPD Hours assigned by the Society.

The Society has sole and absolute discretion in deciding whether or not to accept any application to be an Approved Training Provider, or to revoke or withdraw such approval, or to renew or retain any Approved Training Provider. To determine whether to revoke, withdraw, retain or renew the status of any Approved Training Provider, the Society may take into consideration whether and how well an Approved Training Provider has adhered to the “Terms and Conditions for Approved Training Providers”.
c. Application for Recognition as an Approved Training Course
   
Step 1: Download the prescribed Application Form or submit your application online.
Step 2: Submit the completed Form together with your cheque payment of the administration fee of $30.00 plus prevailing GST for each course submitted for approval and all required supporting documents to the Training Department at least 6 weeks prior to the date of the course which you wish to have recognised by the Law Society as an Approved Training Course. This is to ensure that the Society has sufficient time to process your application and for the details on Approved Training Course to be posted on the CPD Event Calendar on the Society’s CPD website. Please note that as a general policy, we will not recognise any course or assign CPD Hours to such course after it has taken place.
Step 3:

The Training Department will follow up with you should it require any clarifications on your Form or any information provided.
Step 4:

You will hear from us on whether your application has been successful within 4 weeks of our receipt of all information requested.

Please note that as a general policy, we will not approve any course or assign CPD Hours to a course after it has taken place. Hence, please ensure that your application to be an Approved Training Provider reaches us at least 6 weeks prior to the 1st course for which you wish to have CPD Hours assigned by the Society.

The Society has sole and absolute discretion in deciding whether or not to accept any application for recognition as an Approved Training Course or to revoke or withdraw such approval. To determine whether to grant, revoke or withdraw approvals, the Society may take into consideration whether and how well a training provider has previously adhered to the “Terms and Conditions for Providers of Approved Training Courses”.
TERMS & CONDITIONS FOR APPROVED TRAINING PROVIDERS
 


All Approved Training Providers are required to comply with the following Terms & Conditions, which may be revised by the Society from time to time upon giving 1 month written notice to Approved Training Providers:

 
a. Use of Society’s Name and Logo
  Not to use the Society’s logo in any manner whatsoever, without the Society’s express written approval. The use of the Society’s name should be limited to a statement during the period you are an Approved Training Provider that “[insert name of organisation] is an Approved Training Provider for The Law Society of Singapore.”
b. Notification of Changes
 

All changes to any information submitted to the Society in relation to an application to be an Approved Training Provider shall be notified to the Training Department in writing (by fax: 6533 5700, or email cpd@lawsoc.org.sg) as soon as possible after such changes are made or occur.

c. Content & Structure of Courses
  Ensure that all courses/programs for which the Society’s recognition is sought for the purposes of vMCPD meet the following criteria:
 
i. are relevant to the short, medium or long term development of a legal professional;
ii. have intellectual or practical content;
iii. relate primarily to the practice of law or to the legal profession;
iv. are at least 60 minutes in length, excluding all breaks;
v. are not used for promoting or marketing any particular product, service or organisation;
vi. have clear learning objectives;
vii. are organised and structured to be effective as a learning activity; and
viii. are planned and presented by persons qualified and experienced in the subject matter.

d. Notification of Courses
 

Inform the Training Department in writing using the prescribed Course Notification form (by fax: 6533 5700, or email cpd@lawsoc.org.sg) 1 month in advance of each course for which you wish to have CPD Hours assigned. This is to ensure that the Society will have sufficient time to review the details of the course to determine its classification and CPD Hours to be assigned and to post the same on the CPD Event Calendar.

e. Information to be Included on Course Marketing/Publicity Materials
  Include the following information, as notified to you by the Training Department, on all marketing and publicity materials relating to your courses for which the Society’s recognition is sought for the purposes of vMCPD:
 
i. Assigned CPD Hours – to specify the actual duration of the course less all breaks and opening and closing remarks by the organiser
ii. Program Category – to specify the category within which the course falls in the Society’s Training Framework
iii. Practice Area – this applies only to courses within the Professional Practice Program Category and will specify the area of legal practice the course relates to
iv. Training Level – to specify the prior knowledge required of the target audience

More about the Society’s classification of courses can be found in its “Members’ Guide to The Law Society of Singapore’s Voluntary Minimum Continuing Professional Development Scheme”.
f. Attendance Policy
  Accept and apply the following policy in relation to attendance by the Society’s practitioner members at courses for which the Society’s recognition is sought for the purposes of vMCPD:
 
i. Record attendance at the start of each course by having attendees sign in on attendance records in the prescribed form.
ii. Submit the original signed attendance records for attendees and speakers to the Training Department within 2 weeks of the conclusion of each course.
iii. CPD Hours will be awarded to the Society’s practitioner members only after the Training Department has received the duly signed attendance records in the prescribed format.
iv. A 30-minute grace period for late arrivals by attendees shall be permitted, except programs shorter than 60 minutes for which no grace period shall be permitted. No CPD Hours should be awarded to any participant who arrives after the permitted grace period or is absent. The reasons for late arrival or absence are immaterial for the purposes of awarding CPD Hours.
v. Request that the Society’s practitioner members who object to the enforcement of this attendance policy put such objection in writing to the Society for the attention of the Director, Training and Continuing Professional Development.
vi. Retain all attendance records for a period of 2 years after the relevant course for the Society’s audit purposes.
vii. Furnish attendance records to the Society in such format as required by the Society and notified to the Approved Training Provider from time to time.

g. Participants’ Evaluation of Courses
  Obtain feedback from participants on your course using the prescribed feedback form and submit a summary of or full set of all feedback forms received from participants on your course. Feedback on all courses conducted by Approved Training Providers will be monitored carefully to ensure standards of quality are maintained.
h. vMCPD Audits
  Render all necessary assistance to the Society from time to time for the purpose of its conducting audits of courses by Approved Training Providers, either by allowing its representatives to attend such courses or to review any materials and handouts for the same.

 
TERMS & CONDITIONS FOR PROVIDERS OF APPROVED TRAINING COURSES
 


All training providers of Approved Training Courses are required to comply with the following Terms & Conditions which may be revised by the Society from time to time upon giving 1 month written notice to the relevant training providers:

 
a. Use of Society’s Name and Logo
  Not to use the Society’s logo in any manner whatsoever, without the Society’s express written approval. The use of the Society’s name should be limited to a statement that “[insert title of Approved Training Course] offered by [insert name of the training provider] is an Approved Training Course recognised by The Law Society of Singapore.”
b. Notification of Changes
 

All changes to any information submitted to the Society in relation to an application for recognition as an Approved Training Course shall be notified to the Training Department in writing (by fax: 6533 5700, or email cpd@lawsoc.org.sg) as soon as possible after such changes are made or occur.

c. Content & Structure of Courses
  Ensure that each Approved Training Course meets the following criteria:
 
i. is relevant to the short, medium or long term development of a legal professional;
ii. has intellectual or practical content;
iii. relates primarily to the practice of law or to the legal profession;
iv. is at least 60 minutes in length, excluding all breaks;
v. is not used for promoting or marketing any particular product, service or organisation;
vi. has clear learning objectives;
vii. is organised and structured to be effective as a learning activity; and
viii. is planned and presented by persons qualified and experienced in the subject matter.

d. Information to be Included on Course Marketing/Publicity Materials
  Include the following information, as notified to you by the Training Department, on all marketing and publicity materials relating to each Approved Training Course:
 
i. Assigned CPD Hours – to specify the actual duration of the course less all breaks
ii. Program Category – to specify the category within which the course falls in the Society’s Training Framework
iii. Practice Area – this applies only to courses within the Professional Practice Program Category and will specify the area of legal practice the course relates to
iv. Training Level – to specify the prior knowledge required of the target audience

More about the Society’s classification of courses can be found in its “Members’ Guide to The Law Society of Singapore’s Voluntary Minimum Continuing Professional Development Scheme”.
e. Attendance Policy
  Accept and apply the following policy in relation to attendance by the Society’s practitioner members at your Approved Training Courses:
 
i. Record attendance at the start of each Approved Training Course by having attendees sign in on attendance records in the prescribed form.
ii. Submit the original signed attendance records for attendees and speakers to the Training Department within 2 weeks of the conclusion of each Approved Training Course.
iii. A 30-minute grace period for late arrivals by attendees shall be permitted, except programs shorter than 60 minutes for which no grace period shall be permitted. No CPD Hours should be awarded to any participant who arrives after the permitted grace period or is absent. The reasons for late arrival or absence are immaterial for the purposes of awarding CPD Hours.
iv. CPD Hours will be awarded to the Society’s practitioner members only after the Training Department has received the duly signed attendance records in the prescribed format.
v. Request that the Society’s practitioner members who object to the enforcement of this attendance policy put such objection in writing to the Society for the attention of the Director, Training and Continuing Professional Development.
vi. Retain all attendance records for a period of 2 years after each course for the Society’s audit purposes.
vii. Furnish attendance records to the Society in such format as required by the Society and notified to the training provider from time to time.

f. Participants’ Evaluation of Courses
  Obtain feedback from participants on your courses using the prescribed feedback form and submit to the Society a summary of or a full set of all feedback forms received from participants. Feedback on all Approved Training Courses will be monitored carefully to ensure standards of quality are maintained.
g. vMCPD Audits
  Render all necessary assistance to the Society from time to time for the purpose of its conducting audits of Approved Training Courses, either by allowing its representatives to attend such courses or to review any materials and handouts for the same.