Speed in conveyancing is not always the key to providing a good service

Much is reported on how the production of upfront information will improve the conveyancing process, making it quicker and in turn a much more pleasant journey for the home mover. ?There is no doubt it will help, but as I have mentioned before it will not provide the complete solution. ?

The provision of a good quality conveyancing service does not just entail speed, in fact some may argue too much speed increases the risk of complaints, and negligence claims.?

Yes, moving to completion as quickly as one can, might be the home movers main aim, however this expectation can be managed, and therefore is could be argued that too much emphasis is being?placed on a very small aspect of a?much larger problem.?

Recruitment of good quality candidates I would argue lies at the heart of service improvement. ?There are too many people working in the industry that are just not up to the job. ?The shortage of staff has not only driven wages to unattainable levels, but has also led to high level of inexperienced and unqualified staff entering the industry. ?This along with fierce fee competition, has contributed to what I see as a dramatic fall in the standard and quality of conveyancing.?It has also, as an aside, played major role in the recent sharp increase in professional indemnity insurance premiums.?

This is not only attributable to firms allowing inexperienced and poorly trained staff to handle complex conveyancing transactions, it is also reflective of a general decline in the standard of certain qualified conveyancers.?The reality here is that there are good solicitors/conveyancers, there are bad solicitors/conveyancers and there are average solicitors/conveyancers, and it is the latter that seems to feature?more predominantly.?

So the time has come to see what can be done to drive up standards within the profession.??Practical experience is important but this should not be allowed to distract from doing what we can to increase technical knowledge and the quality of continuing education.?As the end of the day we should not forget that those working in conveyancing are seen by the public as ‘lawyers’. ?The expectation is that as lawyers we should know what we are doing.?Sadly this is not always the case.?

I dont wish to give the impression that as a firm we have always achieved the right balance between experienced and in experienced staff.?Its all about learning from mistakes and looking to see what can be done to improve efficiency for the benefit of both the business and clients.?Unlike many other businesses we prefer to take the lead rather than wait to be led. ?As an industry we are good at identifying what is wrong but less clever?at finding solutions.?This is evident, for example,?in the low take up of technology.?

So this year we decided to speak?with and?encourage our staff to step forward with their own plans for career advancement. ?We researched and outlined the various options available and following presentations and several meetings we are pleased to have issued?offers of funding to four employees who hopefully will be embarking on licensed conveyancing courses in the very near future.?Offers are also currently with two paralegals who we will be starting their SQE qualifying work experience (QWE) with us in September.?We have also issued an offer to another paralegal who will be starting out shortly on the apprenticeship road to becoming a solicitor. ?We also have other employees who we have agreed to fund SQE examinations and?provide?QWE in 2023. ?

This?cohort of trainees represents one-third of our work force and will I am sure provide us with both continuity of employment and a major stepping stone in bringing about a further improvement in the standard and quality of our service.

Investing in the future in this way is a no brainer. ?The provision of conveyancing should not be about who can reach the finishing line first, it should be more about efficiency, good use of technology and quality of service.?