Conveyancer Job Description

For aspiring legal professionals, the Residential and Commercial Property sector offers a rewarding career that can be undertaken without qualifying as a Solicitor. Many qualified legal professionals choose a career in Conveyancing however, due to their keen interest in the property sector. Appealing to those who enjoy the interpersonal side of law, Conveyancing offers professional development and a strong career path.

This guide will dive into the critical questions – such as ‘what is conveyancing?’ and ‘what is the difference between a conveyancer and a solicitor?’ – delivering the inside scoop on what it means to work in the Residential Property and Conveyancing practice area.

View the latest Conveyancing Jobs on TotallyLegal, to kick start or further your legal career.

What is a Conveyancer?

A Conveyancer is a specialist in property law, acting on behalf of clients buying and selling property. Focusing on the legal aspect of transferring property from one person to another, Conveyancing is a bespoke area of law, conducted by Solicitors, Licensed Conveyancers or Chartered Legal Executives.

Your responsibilities will revolve around aiding clients with property transactions, answering questions regarding the financial and legal concerns that invariably surround the purchase of property, and dealing with a range of crucial documents. From contracts and leases to transfers and mortgages, Conveyancing requires acute drafting, negotiating, and reviewing skills.

Core day-to-day duties will include:

• Counselling private and commercial clients, dealing with any legal setbacks for them as they embark on the buying and selling process.
• Explaining complex technical documentation in clear and simple terms.
• Gathering property information through liaising with estate agents, solicitors, lenders, and local authorities.
• Drafting contracts, leases, and transfer documents, ensuring they are signed by all relevant parties and exchanged on schedule.
• Dealing with lease extensions, transfer of equity, mortgages, and re-mortgages.

If you’re wondering ‘is Conveyancing a good job for me?’, these daily activities act as a good insight into exactly that.

How to Become a Conveyancer

The first step in your career as a Conveyancer, requires the passing of the Council for Licensed Conveyancers (CLC) exams. Depending on your level of qualification and education, you may be exempt from certain course modules.

The CLC offers a Conveyancing Technician course, accepting school and college-leavers with no prior experience. Taking the CLC also aids those conducting a career change from a different area of law.

For Qualified Solicitors, becoming a Conveyancer can be as simple as applying for a license to practice, without the need to sit any exams. Your individual qualifications and experience will determine this – discover the CLC website to learn more.

As a minimum, you need to possess:

• 4 A* - C grade GCSEs (including English) - a degree in a relevant area such as Law, Accounting and Finance, or Land, Estate and Property Management will ameliorate your chances in securing an interview
• A meticulous attention to detail.
• The ability to work to tight deadlines, whilst understanding and explaining legal techniques.
• Strong interpersonal, communication, discretion, and client-facing skills.
• Problem-solving, research, and negotiation skills.

Where Do Conveyancers Work?

Conveyancers have a plethora of working environments to choose from. Required in any establishment that deals with property transactions, Conveyancers can work in:

• Law firms.
• Government bodies.
• Housing associations.
• Property developers.
• Banks and building societies.
• Railways and airports.

Conveyancer Career Path

Working as a CLC-licensed Conveyancing Technician opens doors to mid-level and senior Conveyancer roles. Conveyancer jobs in Commercial Property, as well as Property and Planning, offer the chance to switch between practice and in-house roles.

Branching out into the wider sectors of Residential Property or Commercial Property law, one also has the option to work freelance, building your own portfolio, practice, or undertaking further study to become a fully Qualified Solicitor.

Additional Conveyancing Roles:

In the Conveyancing world, Conveyancers and Conveyancing Solicitors are just part of the team. Some other roles include:

• Conveyancing Paralegals: Paralegal jobs in Residential Property / Conveyancing offer the chance to conduct a personal caseload of administrative and legal support, without the need for a qualification. Gaining essential experience in a bespoke area of expertise, Conveyancing Paralegals are often sought-after within the profession.
• Conveyancing Secretaries: Legal Secretaries play a major role in most legal institutions, including the Conveyancing field. Just like Conveyancing Paralegals, this position is open to those without a qualification. Legal Secretary jobs in Residential Property / Conveyancing offer Legal Secretaries a chance to enhance their knowledge within the sector.
• Conveyancing Fee Earner: a Conveyancing Fee Earner is any member of staff who directly generates income as a result of Conveyancing activities – from drafting documents to attending court. Discover the latest Conveyancing jobs on site.

Plan your next move - check out the range of Conveyancing jobs listed on TotallyLegal. Alternatively, set up a job alert to receive the latest jobs straight to your inbox.