Licensed Conveyancer CV Writing Service

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 property in England and Wales.

As a conveyancer, your main duties would include:

• advising clients on the buying and selling process
• researching who legally owns the property being bought
• conducting ‘searches’ – asking local authorities about any plans that might affect the property in the future
• drafting contracts with details of the sale
• liaising with mortgage lenders, estate agents and solicitors
• paying taxes such as stamp duty
• preparing leases and transfer documents
• keeping records of payments
• checking that contracts are signed and exchanged.

Hours

You would typically work standard office hours, Monday to Friday, although some employers offer a service seven days a week. Part-time work may be available.

You would be office-based, but you may sometimes travel to visit clients and local authority planning offices.

Income

• Starting salaries can be between £14,000 and £20,000 a year.
• After qualifying, earnings can be between £20,000 and £50,000.

Figures are intended as a guideline only.

Entry requirements

To become a licensed conveyancer you must pass the Council for Licensed Conveyancers (CLC) exams.

To begin CLC training, you will usually need at least four GCSEs (A-C) including English, or equivalent qualifications. However, if you have relevant work experience from a solicitor’s or licensed conveyancer’s office, you may be accepted without the minimum qualifications. Contact CLC for advice.

In practice, people often start with higher qualifications, for example law degrees, LPC or Institute of Legal Executives (ILEX) qualifications.

You do not need to be working in the legal profession to start studying for the CLC exams.

Some solicitors specialise in conveyancing. If you are already a qualified solicitor, you don’t need to pass any further exams but you must apply to the CLC for a licence to practise as a conveyancer.

Training and development

To fully qualify as a licensed conveyancer, as well as passing the CLC exams you must also spend at least two years in practical training with a ‘qualified employer’ such as a solicitor or another licensed conveyancer.

The CLC exams are in two parts:

• Foundation – assignments in Introduction to Licensed Conveyancing and Introduction to Law and Legal Method, and exams in Law of Contract and Land Law
• Final – three final exams in Landlord & Tenant, Conveyancing Law & Practice and Accounts.

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 an LPC, 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 an ‘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 could set up in business on your own, in partnership or as a limited company following qualification, subject to your skills competence, knowledge and experience.

Skills and knowledge

• good spoken and written communication skills
• the ability to explain complex legal information to clients
• tact and diplomacy
• the ability to deal with people from all backgrounds
• accuracy and attention to detail
• problem-solving and research skills
• good mathematical skills, for making financial calculations
• calmness under pressure.

Opportunities

As well firms of solicitors or licensed conveyancers, you may find opportunities with banks and building societies, local authorities and property developers. Job prospects can depend on the state of the housing market in your area.

With experience, you could manage a conveyancing department in a large company, or you could set up your own conveyancing firm. You could also choose to study further to become a solicitor.

Licensed Conveyancer CV Writing Service