Licensed conveyancers limit expansion bid to 'property-related' litigation

The Council for Licensed Conveyancers (CLC) has said that its attempt to become a regulator of litigation services will, in practice, "be focused on property-related litigation".

The CLC's bid to regulate both litigation and advocacy services hit the buffers in 2011 when it met strong opposition from the former Lord Chief Justice, Lord Judge.

Publishing its business plan for 2013-2014, Anna Bradley (pictured), chair of the CLC, said the organisation wanted to retain a "sharp focus" on its core strengths.

"So, for example, we will continue to pursue an application to regulate the conduct of litigation, but in practice this will be focused on property-related litigation as part of a package of property-related services required by consumers."

Bradley said the CLC's specialisation was a "real strength" and why licensed conveyancers have not yet needed their own quality scheme.

Some solicitors have expressed disappointment that they have had to join the Law Society's CQS scheme to be on lenders' panels while licensed conveyancers have faced no similar demands.

In her introduction to the business plan, Bradley said licensed conveyancers had gained a10 per cent share of a "still extremely fragmented property market" since their arrival 25 years ago.

She said they had a "clear ambition" to "secure a greater share of the market".

Sheila Kumar, chief executive of the CLC, added: "It is clear that a focused approach by their regulator will be well-suited to that development as the housing market continues its recovery and the development of new business models continues.

"We expect the upturn to increase the pace of change in the conveyancing sector and we aim to continue to deliver our robust but supportive brand of regulation in that changing environment."