Your guide to earning CITMA Paralegal CPD in 2026
CPD is an essential part of being a CITMA Paralegal in 2026, offering a flexible way to take ownership of your professional development.
Whether you’re looking to build on established experience or further develop your expertise, this practical guide will help you understand what CPD is, why it matters, and what you need to do this year to fulfil membership requirements.
What is CPD?
Continuing Professional Development (CPD) is learning undertaken outside of your day-to-day responsibilities, with the aim of developing your skills, knowledge and professional standards.
For CITMA Paralegals, CPD is not about ticking boxes – it’s about meaningful learning that supports your role and long-term career progression.
What’s new for 2026?
From the start of this year, all CITMA Paralegals are required to complete eight hours of CPD annually to maintain their membership, including those who were previously opted out of the scheme.
This change reflects our commitment to maintaining the highest professional standards across the entire membership, while ensuring consistency for all paralegals.
Understanding the Paralegal Competency Framework
At the heart of the CPD scheme is the Paralegal Competency Framework, which supports CITMA Paralegals in their learning, training and development.
Following recent updates, the framework now includes advanced competences designed for more experienced professionals, covering areas such as leadership, strategic thinking and complex case management.
Rather than being a rigid checklist, the framework helps you to:
- Identify your current strengths
- Highlight areas for development
- Plan CPD activities that are relevant and purposeful
It also provides a useful starting point when planning your CPD for the year, helping you focus on the areas that will have the greatest impact on your development.
Think outside the box
CPD doesn’t have to mean formal courses or exams. Some of the most valuable learning can come from everyday professional experiences.
You might already be completing CPD through activities such as:
- Attending webinars, workshops or conferences
- Participating in in-house training sessions
- Reading articles, case reports or professional publications
- Attending events run by other IP organisations
- Undertaking relevant online courses or study
- Mentoring or being mentored
- Writing articles or delivering presentations
The key questions to ask yourself are: what have I learned, and how does it support my development?
This is particularly important as the scheme is self-certifying, allowing you to tailor your CPD to suit your individual needs and career stage.
Plan your CPD for 2026
Getting started with your CPD doesn’t need to be complicated. A simple way to approach this is to:
- Review the Paralegal Competency Framework
- Identify areas where you want to develop
- Choose activities that align with those goals
- Record and reflect on your learning throughout the year
Taking a proactive approach early in the year will make it easier to stay on track and avoid a last-minute rush.
Towards the end of the year, you’ll be invited to submit your CPD declaration online. The process is straightforward and takes just a few minutes to complete.
To support you in doing this, we have also created a downloadable spreadsheet where you can log your CPD activities as you go.
Join us at the Paralegal Conference 2026
If you’re looking for a practical and engaging way to build your CPD, our 2026 Paralegal Conference is one of the most effective ways to get started.
Taking place this September at the Grand Connaught Rooms in London, the conference offers:
- Expert-led sessions on key industry topics
- Opportunities to network with peers
- Practical insights you can apply in your day-to-day role
Attending the conference will count for five hours of CPD, making it a valuable way to progress your annual requirement while connecting with the wider paralegal community.
Super earlybird tickets are now available, so be sure to secure your place and make the most of this key event in the calendar.
For further information on the CPD scheme, visit our CITMA Paralegal Continuing Professional Development guidance notes.