What is Conveyancing?

As recently documented by TotallyLegal, the number of legal jobs in the Property Sector – including roles in Conveyancing – is on the rise. Similarly, the number of recruiter searches for ‘Conveyancer’ on our CV database saw a year-on-year increase of 40%.

For many aspiring legal professionals wishing to work in Property, Conveyancing presents a challenging and rewarding career path that can be undertaken without necessarily becoming a qualified Solicitor.

Equally, many qualified Solicitors choose to become Conveyancers as the job caters to their interest in Property law, strong interpersonal skills and keen eye for detail.

What is Conveyancing?

As a Conveyancer you will be on hand to assist your clients throughout the transaction and answer their questions regarding the financial and legal concerns that invariably surround the purchase of property.

You will also be responsible for a range of crucially important documents. From contracts and leases to transfers and mortgages, your drafting, negotiating and reviewing skills will be put to the test if you choose to become a Conveyancer.

Your core daily duties as a Conveyancer will likely include:
• Counselling private and commercial clients and 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 liaison with estate agents, solicitors, lenders and local authorities
• Drafting contracts, leases and transfer documents, ensuring they are signed by all relevant parties and exchanged
• Dealing with lease extensions, transfer of equity, mortgages and re-mortgages.

How to become a Conveyancer

If you want to become a Conveyancer and are not already a qualified Solicitor, you must pass a set of exams set by the Council for Licensed Conveyancers (CLC). Depending on your level of qualification and education, you may be exempt from certain modules of the course.

The CLC also offers a Conveyancing Technician course, accepting school and college-leavers with no prior experience who aspire to a career in law. This course is equally valuable for those considering a career change.

For qualified Solicitors, becoming a Conveyancer can be as simple as applying for a license to practice without sitting any exams. Your individual qualifications and experience will determine this, so check out the CLC website to learn more.

Additionally, you’ll need to possess:
• 4 A*-C grade GCSEs (including English)
• Exceptional attention to detail
• The ability to work to tight deadlines under pressure
• Strong interpersonal, communication and client-facing skills
• Problem-solving, research and negotiating skills
• Maths and IT competency

Where do Conveyancers work?

Conveyancers work anywhere that deals with property transactions, including:
• Law firms
• Government bodies
• Housing associations
• Property developers
• Banks & building societies
• Railways & airports

Conveyancer career path

For Conveyancers, the future holds many opportunities. Starting out as a CLC licensed Conveyancing Technician, you will be able to work your way up the ranks to mid-level and eventually senior Conveyancer roles, switching between practice and in-house depending on your personal reference.

There is also the option for talented individuals to go freelance and build their own practice or undertake further study to become a fully qualified Solicitor and branch out into the wider sectors of Residential or Commercial Property law.

Search and apply

To get an idea of the opportunities currently available and plan your next move, check out the range of Conveyancing jobs listed on TotallyLegal today.

Would you like to take part in an interview about your experience as a Conveyancer? If so, we would love to hear from you. Get in touch on marketing@reachwork.com to find out more.