Conveyancing is the legal process of transferring a house or flat, commercial property or piece of land from one owner to another. Licensed or qualified conveyancers are specialist property lawyers who deal with the paperwork and finances involved in buying and selling properties and land.

Their main duties include:

• advising clients in person, over the phone or by e-mail
• researching who legally owns the property being bought
• conducting ‘searches’ - asking local authorities for details of any plans that might affect the property in the future
• drafting contracts with details of the sale
• liaising with mortgage lenders (banks and building societies), estate agents and solicitors
• paying taxes such as stamp duty
• preparing transfer documents such as leases
• keeping records of payments
• checking that contracts are signed and exchanged.

Hours and Environment

Conveyancers normally work 37 hours a week, Monday to Friday. They may sometimes need to work longer hours at busy times. Some employers offer a seven days a week service and this would involve weekend work. Part-time work and job sharing are often available.

Conveyancers are usually office-based, but may sometimes travel to visit clients.

Skills and Interests

To work as a conveyancer, you should:

• have good spoken and written communication skills
• be able to explain complex legal information to clients
• be tactful, diplomatic and able to deal with people from all backgrounds
• work accurately and pay attention to details
• have problem-solving and resreach skills
• have good numeracy skills, for making financial calculations
• be able to work under pressure.

Entry

England and Wales
To become a licensed conveyancer in England and Wales you must pass the Council for Licensed Conveyancers (CLC) training and examinations.

To begin CLC training you must have at least four GCSEs (A-C)/S grades (1-3) including English, or equivalent qualifications. However, many people start with more than the minimum qualifications, for example law degrees or Institute of Legal Executives (ILEX) qualifications.

If you are aged 25 or over and have previous relevant legal work experience, you may be accepted without the minimum qualifications - contact CLC for advice (see Further Information).

Scotland
To become a qualified conveyancer in Scotland you must qualify as a solicitor, by gaining:

• a degree in law from a Scottish university or the Law Society of Scotland professional examinations
• a diploma in legal practice from a Scottish university or approved institution
• a training contract with a solicitor or independent qualified conveyancer.

Contact the Law Society of Scotland for more details about qualifying (see Further Information).

To enter a law degree you will usually need at least five GCSEs (A-C)/S grades (1-3) and two or three A levels/three H grades, or equivalent qualifications. Some universities will now also ask you to pass the National Admissions Test for Law (LNAT) before accepting you. For more details please see the LNAT website (in the Further Information section).

An Access to Higher Education qualification may also be accepted for entry to certain courses. Please check with colleges or universities for exact entry requirements.

Training

England and Wales
To qualify as a licensed conveyancer you must:

• be aged 21 or over
• pass the CLC examinations
• spend at least two years (if working full-time, longer if part-time) in practical training with a 'qualified employer' such as a solicitor or a licensed conveyancer.

The CLC examinations are in two parts:

• Foundation - you must pass assignments in Introduction to Licensed Conveyancing and Introduction to Law and Legal Method, and pass examinations in Law of Contract and Land Law.
• Final - you must pass examinations in Accounts, Conveyancing Law and Practice, and Landlord and Tenant.

You can study for the CLC exams part-time at several colleges in england and Wales, or by distance learning. See the CLC website for more details.

You may be exempt from some of the CLC exams if you have legal qualifications such as ILEX or a law degree. If you have previous legal work experience you may be able to bypass some or all of the practical training period. Contact the CLC for advice.

You will receive your first licence (known as a 'limited' or 'employed' licence) after you have completed all the CLC exams and the practical training requirement. You must stay in qualifying employment for another three years to be able to apply for a full licence, so that you can set up in business on your own, in partnership or as a limited company.

Scotland
Your training period will be one to two years long. To become qualified you must:

• find relevant employment under a training contract with a solicitor or independent qualified conveyancer
• prove to the Law Society of Scotland that your training covered all aspects of conveyancing services.

Opportunities

Qualified and experienced conveyancers are in great demand.

Employers include solicitors and licensed conveyancing firms. In England and Wales (but not in Scotland) it is possible to work for mortgage lenders (building societies and banks), local authorities and property departments.

Annual Income

Figures are intended as a guideline only.

Starting salaries could be from £14,000 to £20,000 a year.
A qualified licensed conveyancer could earn from £18,000 to £45,000 a year.

Further information

16 Glebe Road
Chelmsford
Essex
CM1 1QG
Tel: 01245 349599 26 Drumsheugh Gardens
Edinburgh
EH3 7YR
Tel: 0131 226 7411