SmartSearch: AML standards must improve after OPBAS report highlights critical gaps
The latest report from the Office for Professional Body Anti‑Money Laundering Supervision (OPBAS) highlights progress in how money laundering risks are supervised across the legal and accountancy sectors, but warns that enforcement and compliance standards still fall short in key areas. OPBAS finds that, while professional body supervisors are now more effective than when OPBAS was established […]
Empowering law firm leaders podcast: The good, the bad, and the ugly of legal tech for SME law firms
Episode 29 of Osprey Approach’s Empowering Law Firm Leaders podcast is now available to watch and listen to on YouTube, Spotify, and Amazon Music. For the latest episode, Amy Bruce, Osprey Approach’s marketing director, was joined by Shona Kaye, legal technology consultant and co-founder of Lanterna, to share practical, first hand advice on why legal tech […]
Webinar: An introduction to contract and land law issues
Tuesday 31st March, 2:00pm – 3:00pm Join Geodesys for an informative webinar designed for conveyancing professionals seeking a clear understanding of property ownership and the conveyancing processes. The session will be presented by conveyancing expert, Ian Quayle of IQ Legal Training, and Kay Toon, Geodesys Key Account Manager. They will guide you through essential concepts […]
Webinar: A freehold residential conveyancing transaction in detail
Wednesday 6th May, 11.30am – 12.30pm Description: Join Geodesys, in partnership with IQ Legal Training, for a practical, step‑by‑step overview of a freehold residential conveyancing transaction. This focused one‑hour webinar is ideal for professionals looking to deepen their knowledge of both seller and buyer responsibilities throughout the conveyancing process. Topics covered include: Preparing the contract bundle […]
tmGroup launches tmSign – the Qualified Electronic Signature solution purpose-built for UK conveyancing
tmGroup has launched tmSign, an innovative Qualified Electronic Signature (QES) solution specifically for the regulatory, technical and workflow needs of conveyancers. The platform brings together verified digital identity, compliance, and legally recognised signing into one seamless process – enabling firms to complete property transactions securely, efficiently, and without the delays traditionally associated with wet signatures. […]
How a missed policy test changed the outcome of a green belt housing appeal
A planning inspector has approved a 120-home development on green belt land near Beaconsfield, following a High Court ruling that overturned an earlier appeal refusal due to a failure to consider key national policy requirements The decision brings an end to a protracted planning process for land promoter Hawridge Strategic Land, whose proposals had previously been […]
March housing market remains steady despite global uncertainty, Rightmove finds
Market activity in March appears stable so far despite the new geopolitical uncertainty created by the Iran war, according to Rightmove’s latest figures. The property portal’s real-time snapshot of daily market activity on Friday revealed the number of sales being agreed is only 2% behind the strong market of this time last year, and 5% […]
The BCAs go north – British Conveyancing Awards take Manchester by storm
The British Conveyancing Awards, sponsored by Groundsure, has crowed its 2026 winners at a glitzy ceremony hosted at Manchester Cathedral on Thursday night. Big winners on the night included Rowlinsons Solicitors, AVRillo, TV Edwards Solicitors, and InfoTrack. Like the music industry’s BRIT Awards before it, 2026 marked the first year the British Conveyancing Awards has […]
Call for conveyancers to join data testing project
The Smart Property Data Trust Framework sandbox, a government-backed project laying the foundations for a “more efficient, trusted and transparent housing market”, is looking for more conveyancing firms to get involved. The initiative comes in response to what its creators describe as a property market still reliant on “document-heavy, fragmented processes”, with the aim of […]
MHCLG shares contractual control agreement guidance for conveyancers
New government transparency rules will expose secret land deals, the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) has said, as it publishes guidance on contractual control agreements. The guidance, which is intended for conveyancers submitting information to HM Land Registry on behalf of clients, has been issued by MHCLG to support the implementation of […]
Property Conveyancing Consultancy now CPD approved
Post-completion specialist training provider Property Conveyancing Consultancy (PCC) is now an approved CPD provider. Five of the provider’s courses are already approved, and the company says it will continue to add to its CPD-approved training. “After a lot of hard work, determination and drive to push our one narrative; that post-completion is a vital part […]
New SoF training programme for conveyancers
A new Source of Funds (SoF) training programme could help conveyancing firms navigate what its developers describe as “one of the most complex and anxiety-inducing areas of AML compliance”. Tom Lyes Consultancy and compliance specialists HiveRisk launched SoF in Focus to give conveyancing teams “practical guidance and greater confidence” when dealing with SoF enquiries in live matters. Practical sessions cover […]
Understanding complaints and early resolution opportunities
The latest episode of the Today’s Conveyancer podcast welcomes Senior Ombudsman at the Legal Ombudsman (LeO) Clair Daniel to explore the current landscape of legal complaints handling, the challenges facing firms, and the strategic work underway to improve first‑tier resolution across the legal sector. The backdrop to the discussion is the increase in the number […]
Diary of a High Street Conveyancer – And the winner is…
Awards are a funny thing – all industries have them and I am sure that there are even awards for the best awards ceremonies. But when it comes to conveyancing, I am conflicted. I see so much hard work on the High Street; all firms are finding it hard at the moment with so much […]