Licensed conveyancer

You could do a technician conveyancer higher apprenticeship and move onto a licensed conveyancer degree apprenticeship.

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

• 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C) and A levels, or equivalent, for a higher or degree apprenticeship

More Information

• equivalent entry requirements
• guide to apprenticeships

You could start in a conveyancing office and work your way up by training to become a registered conveyancing technician.

You'll need:

• 6 months' practical experience in a probate or conveyancing practice, in a legal firm or in an organisation offering probate services to the public
• to apply for registration with the Council for Licensed Conveyancers

You could then take the Level 6 Diploma in Conveyancing Law and Practice to fully qualify.

You can take the following qualifications through the Council for Licensed Conveyancers:

• Diploma in Conveyancing Law and Practice Level 4
• Diploma in Conveyancing Law and Practice Level 6

You can start studying even if you're not working in the legal profession. Each diploma takes around 18 to 24 months to complete, including practical experience.

You may be able to complete these more quickly if you already have a qualification like a:

• law degree
• Graduate Diploma in Law (GDL)
• Chartered Institute of Legal Executives (CILEx) diploma

Registration

• you'll need to apply to the Council for Licensed Conveyancers for a licence to work as a conveyancer

Further information

You can get more details about careers in conveyancing from the Council for Licensed Conveyancers.

You'll need:

• excellent verbal communication skills
• excellent written communication skills
• legal knowledge including court procedures and government regulations
• knowledge of English language
• active listening skills
• analytical thinking skills
• to be thorough and pay attention to detail
• maths skills
• to be able to use a computer and the main software packages competently

You'll need to:

• have a credit check
• pass enhanced background checks

Your day-to-day duties may include:

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

You could work in an office or at a client's business.