We are often approached by graduates and students, from a variety of disciplines, who are looking for various roles in the legal sector. Often, we are asked what qualifications are required to become a conveyancer, as well as what experience will make candidates stand out from the crowd when applying for graduate roles.
With this in mind, we decided to write an entry that would provide an overview of the qualifications required and the various career paths available in the conveyancing field.
The Routes to Qualification
The traditional route into any legal role with a fee earning capacity is to complete an LLB degree (Bachelor’s degree in law) and then hone the skills and knowledge acquired on the course by completing a Legal Practice Course (LPC).
Following completion of this, the next step is to acquire a training contract within a law firm; qualifying as a solicitor on completion of this position. Graduates of non-Law disciplines can still qualify, providing they pass a supplementary, year-long Graduate Diploma in Law (GDL) before enrolling onto the LPC.
Non-graduates, who work in a legal environment, can join the Chartered Institute of Legal Executives. Candidates looking to do this will need to have at least four GCSEs at A*-C grades, including English, or recognised equivalents. This form of qualification will involve sitting examinations, as well as work-based learning.
Those who undergo this route to qualification will be required to sit various examinations and to also undertake CILEx-approved employment. This can be particularly beneficial to those wishing to qualify, but are in need of the income afforded to them by this mode of study.
Successful completion of the course will make candidates Members of the CILEx, with the opportunity to become a Fellow arising once enough experience as a qualified Legal Executive has been gained. It should be noted that this route can take up to twice as long as the current graduate route, due to the blended learning model (work and classroom) that is required for its completion.
Alternatively, it is possible to become a Licensed Conveyancer by passing exams set by the Council for Licensed Conveyancers (CLC).
Forthcoming Changes to Qualification
The current graduate route is being changed by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA). In April 2017, the SRA announced plans to introduce a Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE); this replacing the current LPC and training contract model.
The Chair of the SRA Board, Enid Rowlands, commented on the strong “public appetite for a central assessment” on the SRA website, stating that,
‘Four in five adults in England and Wales told us they believed everyone should pass the same final exam to become a solicitor, while three quarters said they would have more confidence in solicitors if they all passed the same final exam.’
These centralised changes are set to be in effect by 2020 and, under these, the new route to qualification will entail:
• Obtaining a degree or equivalent qualification
• Passing the new SQE
• Successfully completing two years of relevant legal work experience
• Passing the SRA’s character and suitability test
It should be noted that the SQE is the only new element being introduced to the procedure, with the other three elements being already requisites to becoming a Solicitor.
However, the changes are not only being made to improve the standards of legal practice. Part of the motivation for the new proposals is to facilitate upwards social mobility by making a career in law more easily accessible to those from disadvantaged backgrounds. In another consultation write-up on the SRA website, Rowlands has stated that,
‘A strong and respected legal profession is enhanced if unnecessary barriers to good candidates becoming solicitors, regardless of their backgrounds, are removed. The SQE will facilitate the development of more flexible pathways to qualification for those who are able to meet the robust standards of the assessment.’
This is a commendable motivation and will likely prove cost-effective to graduates who are currently paying substantial amounts of money to study the GDL and/or the LPC, before working towards obtaining an elusive training contract, which itself lasts around two years.
Which Area Should You Go Into?
Deciding on which area of law you would like to specialise in is an important decision, which deserves your thorough consideration. A few important points for your deliberation are below:
Volume
Residential conveyancing tends to command a high-volume caseload. This is due to the fact that competition between solicitors in the past led to unsustainably low fees, which are now stabilising, as fewer practitioners have entered the field than did so previously.
Commercial transactions tend to take longer than residential ones. Thus, a commercial conveyancer will likely have fewer cases than their residential colleagues. However, commercial cases are notoriously complex and will require even more attention to detail than their residential counterparts.
Negotiations
The terms of residential transactions are typically negotiated by the relevant parties and co-ordinated by the estate agents involved. This means that legal representatives are only responsible for implementing the terms of their client’s business and are not involved in negotiating them.
Because the contracts are exchanged earlier in commercial property transactions than they are in residential cases, this means that commercial conveyancers can be responsible for assisting in their clients’ negotiations. This will suit people who are able to persuade effectively and who thrive in negotiations, but may prove challenging for those who are uncomfortable in such situations.
Is Conveyancing Right for You?
Overall, conveyancing will suit those who: can work at a fast pace, with a methodical approach; are able to work to deadlines, which are sometimes very tight; enjoy interacting with fellow professionals in the property market, and are technically accurate in a wide range of legal areas.
At Howells Solicitors, we are always on the lookout for talented and driven individuals who can join our team and make a good contribution. We regularly recruit university graduates and have links with the University of South Wales, who regularly refer able candidates to us.
To keep up to date with the vacancies that we have available, see the recruitment page of our website.
