The Nova Scotia Lawyers Professional Development System has been developed for legal professionals in Nova Scotia, Canada. It offers a structured yet flexible framework to plan, track, and reflect on continuing professional development.
An interactive dashboard presents a visual summary of activities, including graphs, logs, and key indicators, helping lawyers monitor progress, identify gaps in learning, and understand how their development activities align with professional obligations. The system supports crafting written CPD Plans, logging completed activities, accessing guidance materials, and keeping organized records.
SYSTEM OVERVIEW
All practising lawyers in Nova Scotia must create an annual written CPD Plan, declare completion on their Annual Lawyer Report (ALR), and retain records for five years. It is expected that each lawyer completes at least 12 hours of CPD per reporting year. The reporting year runs from June 1 to May 31.
CPD activities must serve an educational purpose and relate to areas such as:
- Substantive legal education and skill development
- Risk and practice management
- Professionalism (including cultural competency and ethics)
Lawyers may choose from a variety of learning options—online courses, study groups, seminars, or self-directed study. The Society provides CPD Plan templates and encourages periodic review and reflection to enhance professional competence.
PD system family for Canadian lawyers
PD able delivers specialised modules across Canadian jurisdictions. Users moving between systems can carry forward their professional history while keeping original records intact:
- Lawyers - CA - Alberta
- Lawyers - CA - British Columbia
- Lawyers - CA - Manitoba
- Lawyers - CA - New Brunswick
- Lawyers - CA - Newfoundland and Labrador
- Lawyers - CA - Northwest Territories
- Lawyers - CA - Nova Scotia (selected)
- Lawyers - CA - Nunavut Territory
- Lawyers - CA - Ontario
- Lawyers - CA - Prince Edward Island
- Lawyers - CA - Quebec
- Lawyers - CA - Saskatchewan
- Lawyers - CA - Yukon Territory
REVIEW
This Nova Scotia PD system equips legal professionals with a carefully structured framework for planning, recording, and reviewing their development. Written plans, consistent tracking, and flexible learning methods ensure both competence and compliance, empowering lawyers to manage their professional growth effectively.