The role of learning and development

Copyright © 2025 LexisNexis
Produced in partnership with Beth Pipe FCIPD of OnLive Learning
Practice notes

The role of learning and development

Copyright © 2025 LexisNexis

Produced in partnership with Beth Pipe FCIPD of OnLive Learning

Practice notes

What was once known as 'training' is now usually referred to as 'learning and development' (L&D) to reflect the fact that people learn in a variety of ways and not solely by attending training courses. L&D covers any opportunity for learning within the firm. It includes, but is not limited to:

  1. •

    attending training courses

  2. •

    completing online tutorials

  3. •

    watching webinars

  4. •

    on-the-job coaching

  5. •

    mentoring

  6. •

    reading

  7. •

    researching

Regulatory requirements

The solicitors regulation authority (SRA) requires solicitors and registered lawyers to maintain their competence to carry out their role. For more information about the SRA’s continuing competence regime, see Practice Note: The continuing competence regime.

Firms that have, or are working towards, accreditation for Lexcel, the Law Society’s voluntary practice management standard, are required to have an L&D policy covering. You should also consider any other accreditation schemes that you may be a member of.

There may be other employees within the firm with professional qualifications and whose governing bodies require them to undertake continuing professional development,

Beth Pipe
Beth Pipe, FCIPD

Learning & Development Specialist/Director, OnLive Learning

Beth is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (FCIPD) and has spent over 25 years specialising in Learning and Development. During that time she has worked across a broad variety of different industries and has, for the past 15 years, worked closely with a number of well known law firms; this has involved putting in to place systems and structures to encourage, enable and track the effectiveness of learning activities. 

Adept at face to face course delivery, and always enjoying excellent feedback, Beth is also accomplished at online delivery and created OnLive Learning in response to the challenges presented by the 2020 Covid-19 restrictions.

Beth has written extensively for LexisNexis on subjects such as Performance Management, Managing Change and Stress Management.

Away from her training delivery she is a published author writing about local history, hiking, wildlife and the outdoors and is currently working on her eleventh book. She is also an experienced radio presenter hosting two shows each week on Lake District Radio.

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Jurisdiction(s):
United Kingdom
Key definition:
Requirements definition
What does Requirements mean?

A DCO should include “Requirements” to which the development authorised by the DCO is to be subject. Similar to planning conditions, a requirement specifies the matters for which detailed approval needs to be obtained before the development can be lawfully begin.

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