CPD Requirements: The Law Society of Ontario requires lawyers and paralegals to complete 12 CPD hours, including 3 professionalism hours and up to 9 substantive hours, by December 31 of each year. Between January 1, 2018 and December 31, 2020, lawyers and paralegals must complete 3 professionalism hours focusing on equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI). Each year thereafter, they must complete 1 professionalism hour addressing EDI. These EDI hours count towards the 3 CPD Professionalism Hours required each year. See Changes to the CPD Requirement for background information on the CPD EDI Requirement. All credits must be reported by December 31.

A lawyer who completes more than 12 hours of eligible CPD activities in a year is not entitled to carry over the balance into the next year. EDI Professionalism Hours in excess of the 3 EDI Professionalism Hours that are required between 2018-2020 or the 1 EDI Professionalism Hour required each year from 2021 onward will be automatically applied to the lawyer or paralegal’s Professionalism Hours requirement for the reporting year. Any Professionalism Hours in excess of the 3 Professionalism Hours required each year will be automatically applied to the lawyer or paralegal's Substantive Hours requirement for that reporting year. See Frequently Asked Questions about the CPD Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) Requirement.

For additional information, please see the FAQ page on the Law Society of Ontario's website.

Coronavirus Update: The annual Continuing Professional Development (CPD) Requirement continues to apply. However, in the context of COVID-19 and to support public health best practices of physical and social distancing, the LSO removed the six-hour maximum limit that applied to watching an archived program without a colleague, teaching, and professional writing for 2020 and 2021. The Law Society continues to monitor the COVID-19 outbreak and its impact on licensee obligations.

Completing Your CPD Requirements with PLI: PLI and SEC Institute's live seminars, live webcasts and co-sponsored locations qualify as "interactive" credit. There is no limit to the number of credits an attorney can earn via interactive programs. View PLI programs approved for Ontario CPD credit.

PLI and SEC Institute's on-demand web programs qualify as "recorded" credit. If viewed without a colleague, attorneys are limited to 6 credits of recorded programs per year. If viewed with at least one colleague, there is no limit to the number of credits that can be earned through recorded programs.

Professionalism Hours (including EDI Professionalism) require accreditation from the Law Society. Substantive Hours need not be accredited.

PLI has been approved as an Accredited Provider of Professionalism Content by the Law Society of Ontario.

Attendance Reporting: Attorneys must report their own attendance to the Law Society of Ontario via the LSO Portal.

PLI's Credit Information: Canadian CPD

Continuing Professional Development (CPD) for Canadian Attorneys