The Bar Standards Board has announced a review of the continuing professional development (CPD) requirements for barristers.

The biggest proposed change would see an increase in the number of CPD hours that members of the bar are required to do each year, doubling it from 12 to 24.

A more flexible definition of CPD will be adopted which will include any activity undertaken by a barrister relevant to their practice area, outside normal professional commitments.

The hours will be split between ‘verifiable’ and ‘non-verifiable’ activities.

Half of the 24 hours would need to be spent doing ‘verifiable’ activities, that can be securely evidenced, such as participation in courses, judicial training and work shadowing, teaching and writing.

The rest could be taken up doing ‘non-verifiable’ activities, including private study, reading law reports or viewing legal broadcasts.

Barristers will be required to maintain a portfolio recording their CPD activities and sign a declaration stating that they have completed the required number of hours, which is submitted as part of their application for the renewal of their practicing certificate.

Activities such as supervising pupils, serving on committees or in a judicial capacity and acting as a mediator will not count towards CPD.

The proposals of the working group on the review of CPD, led by Derek Wood QC, are accompanied by a new draft CPD handbook.

They will be subject to a three-month consultation from June.

Details of the new system will be then be submitted to the Legal Services Board for its approval, with a view to it coming into effect on 1 January 2013.

BSB chair Lady Deech said: ‘We hope that a new system will continue to reassure consumers that they have access to the best possible service on offer.’

The Solicitors Regulation Authority announced a review of solicitors’ CPD rules last month.