CLC aims to boost conveyancer numbers

The Council for Licensed Conveyancers (CLC) has initiated ‘Project 2,000 Lawyers’, aiming to bring 2,000 additional trainees into the Licensed Conveyancer fold by 2030, in response to growing demand in the sector. Alongside this ambitious recruitment campaign, the CLC is advocating for the establishment of a Technical Excellence College (TEC) dedicated to consumer law, with an initial focus on conveyancing and probate services, which are among the most commonly accessed legal areas.

This initiative coincides with recognition from the government of the necessity to promote careers in conveyancing, particularly for fully qualified lawyers, as part of its broader reform of the home-buying process. Currently, there are about 10,000 Authorised Persons engaged in conveyancing in England and Wales, a noted decline from the 13,000 recorded in 2021. The CLC estimates that increasing this number by 2,000 would significantly alleviate delays and reduce transaction fall-throughs, potentially supporting an additional 400,000 property transactions annually.

In the recent Professional and Business Services Jobs Plan released on 19 October, the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade stated that “conveyancers will be central to the successful delivery of the government’s recently announced Home Buying and Selling Reform Roadmap.” The plan acknowledged the critical function of conveyancers in ensuring smooth property transactions, noting, “the profession already plays a critical role in the transaction process by managing the legal transfer of property and ensuring buyers, sellers, and lenders have the information and assurances needed to complete a transaction safely.”

However, growing workloads and expanded responsibilities have exerted increasing pressure on conveyancers, reflecting trends across the legal sector. The government has pledged to collaborate with Skills England and industry partners to ensure the conveyancing workforce has the skills required to adapt to the ambitious changes delineated in the roadmap, which includes enhancing awareness of careers in conveyancing and promoting skills development.

Project 2,000 Lawyers aims to open the doors of legal careers in conveyancing and probate to individuals who may not have previously considered law. This initiative offers a streamlined qualification path for those passionate about these specialisations, exceeding the traditional barriers associated with legal careers. With demand for CLC-qualified practitioners rapidly outpacing current supply, newly qualified lawyers are well positioned to establish careers and businesses in these fields. The CLC encourages educational institutions to acknowledge the diverse career pathways available to students, emphasising that CLC qualifications come with less financial burden compared to other legal routes.

Accelerated qualification tracks for various groups, including law graduates and experienced paralegals, have already been announced by the CLC, catering to a wider range of candidates including non-degree holders. The TECs, integral to the government’s post-16 education and skills strategy, are currently focused on professions like advanced manufacturing, digital technology, and clean energy, but the CLC believes that introducing a consumer legal services TEC would address a substantial gap in the workforce.

A TEC would unite government, employers, education providers, and regulators to forge direct pathways for individuals into professions where demand is evident, helping employers develop their existing staff into licensed lawyers, while also introducing school leavers to fulfilling career opportunities. This strategy is set to enhance workforce capabilities, bolster local firms, facilitate safer transactions, and ensure consumers are well-protected, ultimately supporting economic growth across the UK.

Sheila Kumar, the CLC Chief Executive, articulated the importance of this initiative, stating, “The Government’s Jobs Plan confirms what the CLC has consistently argued: UK growth, housing delivery and home buying and selling reform depend on a larger, diverse and highly skilled licensed conveyancing workforce.” She added, “Licensed conveyancers are the legal engine of the built environment and housing market. They protect consumers and lenders, safeguard high-value assets and enable homes, land, finance and taxation revenue to move safely through the economy.”

Kumar further pointed out that advancements in AI will not lessen the need for skilled licensed conveyancers, declaring, “Increased use of AI will not reduce the need for licensed conveyancers to advise clients, using their expertise, professional ethics and regulated status to ensure the integrity of the conveyancing process and the protection of clients and lenders.” She urges conveyancing practices throughout England and Wales to nurture existing talent and attract new staff, allowing them to qualify and take on more responsibilities in the sector, thus addressing the shortfall in licensed conveyancers.

Kumar concluded, “Project 2,000 Lawyers sets a clear ambition for expanding licensed capacity. Our separate proposal for a Technical Excellence College for consumer law would create the long-term education and skills pipeline needed to sustain the Government’s industry and economic ambitions.”