Law firms face growing pressure to deliver faster, simpler client journeys
As client expectations continue to evolve across the legal sector, law firms are placing increasing focus on how the client journey feels from the very first interaction. From initial enquiry through to onboarding, responsiveness, communication, and ease of process are becoming key factors in how clients evaluate legal services. Clients are increasingly used to digital […]
Conveyancers continue to bear brunt of AML penalties
Conveyancers continue to bear the brunt of AML penalties, with the majority of the decisions published by the Solicitors Regulation Authority in the first half of this year referring to the high-risk nature of the work. Penalties handed to firms carrying out conveyancing have ranged from £1,800 to over £32,000 since January, with fines that […]
New UK Finance Mortgage Lenders’ Handbook launches today
The new edition of the UK Finance Mortgage Lenders’ handbook is live from today (Monday 29th June). The handbook will operate from a new platform and has been developed to deliver “a substantial enhancement in the quality and consistency of the services it provides to users”, UK Finance said. It remains free to use for […]
UK Finance and major lenders developing app-based digital verification service
UK Finance is supporting Barclays, HSBC, Lloyds Banking Group, Nationwide Building Society, NatWest Group and Santander to develop a financial services-led digital verification service that could be used to verify property transactions through banking apps. The service aims to provide a simple and secure way for customers to verify personal details digitally through their banking […]
Government launches consultation on replacing Lifetime ISA with new First Time Buyer ISA
The promised consultation on the implementation of a replacement to Lifetime ISAs (LISAs) has been published, outlining plans to introduce a First Time Buyer ISA (FTBISA). In the autumn 2025 budget, the government announced it would be replacing the LISA after both the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and Treasury Select Committee (TSC) identified flaws with […]
Report will enable conveyancers to benchmark tech against peers
Conveyancing firms are to be ranked by their technological maturity by a free benchmarking tool launched last week. The Digital Conveyancing Maturity Index (DCMI), a bi-annual report published by InfoTrack, enables conveyancing firms across England and Wales to measure and compare their digital capabilities against the wider industry. The benchmarking exercise has been used over […]
‘Costs proposals must be evidence-based’ – Law Society
The Law Society of England and Wales has backed reforms of solicitors’ costs rules, but warns the proposals must be underpinned by “robust evidence”. The warning comes amid concerns that plans to expand the Legal Ombudsman’s (LeO) role risks overloading a system already under significant pressure. The Law Society has spoken to members to inform […]
The government wants to fix home buying, but its plan won’t work in Northern Ireland
Sellers in Northern Ireland could face over £1,000 in upfront costs before a single buyer views their property, but the government’s roadmap contains no acknowledgement of this. Philip Armstrong, managing director of Armstrong Solicitors, says the roadmap addresses none of the issues causing property sale delays in Northern Ireland and will only mislead buyers, not […]
Diary of a High Street Conveyancer – The consultant will see you now
I’m going to be a little controversial this week, so apologies in advance as I don’t intend to offend anyone. I had a hospital appointment this week with a consultant. Google tells me that a consultant doctor is the most senior medical specialist. In the legal sector, I think of a consultant solicitor as someone […]
Crossing the red line: What’s outside the title plan boundary?
The planning landscape is shifting at pace and, for conveyancers, the risks are no longer confined to the red line on a title plan. That’s the warning from DevAssist founder Paul Addison and On Point Data co‑founder Jeremy Dorkins in the latest Today’s Conveyancer Podcast, where both argue that future development risk is now a […]