header-logo header-logo

26 May 2017 / Peter Ambrose
Issue: 7747 / Categories: Features , Property
printer mail-detail

Conveyancing: time to modernise & move on

nlj_7747_ambrose

Succeeding in today’s market requires expertise, investment & a touch of excellence, says Peter Ambrose

We know conveyancing is not glamorous but its ability to generate cash and spin-off work makes it very attractive. This is why it is so important to modernise traditional conveyancing departments so they can generate profitable work without increasing the risks involved. Here are some key suggestions.

Case management

There’s no way around this. Today, conveyancing is not practical without an effective case management system.

A decline in the number of experienced conveyancers means support staff need to be more effective. Making case details available helps them to handle inbound enquiries which enables the fee-earner to focus on the work only they can do.

Action

Case management does not have to be implemented in a “Big Bang” approach—incremental change works fine. Extensive (and expensive) projects that try to solve all the problems at the first attempt are destined to fail. Avoid workflow-based solutions initially—go for the minimum —contact details, note-taking and an automated precedent bank.

Standardisation—fall

If you are not a subscriber, subscribe now to read this content
If you are already a subscriber sign in
...or Register for two weeks' free access to subscriber content

MOVERS & SHAKERS

Clarke Willmott—Megan Bradbury

Clarke Willmott—Megan Bradbury

Corporate team welcomes paralegal in Southampton

Howard Kennedy—Paul Moran

Howard Kennedy—Paul Moran

London firm strengthens real estate team with partner appointment

Cripps—Radius Law

Cripps—Radius Law

Commercial and technology practice boosted by team hire

NEWS
Pathfinder courts—renamed ‘Child focused courts’—are to be rolled out nationally, following a successful pilot where backlogs halved and cases were resolved up to seven and a half months faster
The Court of Appeal has unanimously dismissed a £385,000 costs order against a father, in a case that centred on what is required to meet the threshold of ‘reprehensible or unreasonable’ behaviour
Centuries-old burial laws would be overhauled, under Law Commission proposals to address the burgeoning problem of shortage of cemetery space
The government has committed an extra £32m to women’s charities and services tackling addiction, trauma, abuse and homelessness
The Financial Ombudsman is poised for major reform to return it to a simple, impartial dispute resolution service
back-to-top-scroll