If you have an eye for detail, a nose
for investigation and a taste for sealing big deals, then
conveyancing may be just the career for you.
Handling the process of buying or selling homes or business premises
was once regarded as something so complex and delicate that only
fully-fledged lawyers could do it.
Nowadays people can train specifically to undertake conveyancing
without having to graduate from university and qualify as a
solicitor.
Furthermore the current property boom in Wales has boosted
opportunities in this field.
Many conveyancers actually work within law firms but, with the right
practical training and recognised academic qualifications they can
become licensed to work independently of the lawyers, or indeed
become self-employed.
Newport-based Harding Evans, one of Wales’ largest law firms has
trained several licensed conveyancers. Its head of residential
property John Allison explained: “Conveyancing has traditionally
been one of a solicitor’s skills, but it’s a stimulating career in
its own right.
“Conveyancers handle all aspects of preparing a property for sale or
purchase and make sure everything is watertight. Moving home is
usually one of the largest transactions people make during their
lives, so getting everything right, and making things go smoothly,
is vital.”
Harding Evans opted to train specialist conveyancers in order to
speed up sales and purchases for clients and in order to offer this
service more economically than would be the case if it needed to be
handled by qualified solicitors.
The conveyancer needs to become completely familiar with contract
preparation and with issues such as land registration, investigating
ownership, carrying out local searches, to ensure nothing is planned
in the area that might affect the value of the property, as well as
checking any restrictive covenants that may forbid certain
activities at the property.
To become a licensed conveyancer you need two years practical
experience working under a solicitor or licensed conveyancer and
must undertake a course recognised by the Council of Licensed
Conveyancers (CLC).
This usually involves around two-and-a-half years part-time study at
a further education college or via correspondence from CLC.
After passing the exams and gaining approved experience, a person
can receive their first ‘limited licence,’ which must be renewed
every 12 months. Once practitioners have held a limited licence for
three years, they are eligible for a full licence which allows them
to work independently either within a law firm or financial
institution or even set up their own licensed conveyancing practice.
Once qualified, conveyancers must keep updating their skills through
continuous professional development in order to retain their licence.
