A five-hour round trip to attend a two-hour seminar is still standard practice for regional practitioners in some states, which is exactly the problem online CPD was built to solve. For solicitors balancing billable hours against a fixed annual points requirement, the format a course is delivered in matters as much as the content itself.
Legalwise Seminars runs both live and on-demand programs, and the two formats suit different working patterns rather than one simply replacing the other.
Most Australian law societies count online CPD towards annual compliance as long as the topic falls under one of the four competency categories and the provider generates a certificate of attendance. The mechanics differ slightly by format:
Before you book with a provider, confirm with your regulating body whether there's a cap on how many points can come from on-demand content alone, as some jurisdictions require a minimum number of points from live-format sessions specifically.
Every completed online CPD course should generate a certificate stating the date, duration, competency category and provider details. Keep these for at least three years, which is the minimum retention period required by the Law Society of NSW.
If you are selected for an audit in NSW, you will typically get 21 days to provide your CPD records and supporting evidence. Other states set their own timeframes, so check your local law society's specific requirements.
On-demand CPD suits practitioners who bill by the hour and can't block out a fixed session time without losing income. It also suits sole practitioners covering multiple practice areas, since a recorded library can be worked through in short sessions between client matters rather than in one sitting.
Live formats work better for topics where the audience benefits from asking the presenter direct questions. Think recent legislative changes, for example, where practitioners often have jurisdiction-specific scenarios they want addressed on the spot.
Not every online CPD for lawyers program covers the same ground with the same rigour. Before you purchase a subscription or individual package, check whether the provider publishes full session outlines, lists presenter names and current roles, and confirms which competency category each session satisfies under your state's rules.
A library with broad subject coverage is only useful if the content maps cleanly onto what your compliance year actually requires.
Legalwise Seminars' on-demand library covers all four competency areas, so you can complete a full year's points without booking a single live session or mix in webinars where you want direct access to the presenter. If your compliance deadline is approaching, browse our current online CPD schedule and select sessions that fit both your practice area and your calendar.
Yes, most state law societies accept online CPD courses toward annual points, provided the session covers a recognised competency category and a certificate of attendance is issued. Some jurisdictions cap how many points can come from on-demand content alone.
This depends on the jurisdiction. Some law societies require a minimum number of points from live-format sessions rather than recordings, so check your local rules before relying entirely on on-demand content. View CPD rules by jurisdiction.
Online CPD includes live webinars delivered in real time, while on-demand CPD refers specifically to pre-recorded sessions accessed on your own schedule. Both formats typically count towards compliance if a certificate is issued. Compare live and on-demand formats now.
Providers issue a certificate automatically after a session is completed, showing the date, duration, competency category and provider details. Keep these on file for the full compliance period in case of an audit.
Pricing varies by provider, but subscription-based on-demand libraries often work out cheaper per point for practitioners completing a full year's requirement. A single live seminar may still cost less if you only need a few points. Compare CPD pricing options.