Why excitement around new towns will only go so far when helping deliver government’s housing target
March 2026 saw the government announce the proposed construction of seven new towns which could help deliver a quarter of a million homes. It’s hoped the fresh settlements will secure a large portion of the 1.5 million homes target promised before the conclusion of the current parliament. Knights planning lawyer Hannah Smith shares her thoughts […]
Confessions of a cyber conveyancer: ‘Forget doing the law – you need to learn how to prompt AI’
As lawyers continue to be bombarded with messages urging them to embrace AI, Today’s Conveyancer columnist Peter Ambrose says it’s time to get on board – but strictly on your own terms. As a property lawyer, you will be used to people assuming you have superpowers that transcend mere mortals. Your crystal ball-gazing skills […]
Conway v Conway: The risks of informal family property arrangements
Gabriella Banham and Stephanie Butler from the property litigation team at Birketts discuss the High Court’s decision in Conway v Conway, which examined the intersection between s.2. of the Law of Property (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1989 and the doctrine of proprietary estoppel. Family arrangements around property often begin with trust, goodwill and a shared […]
Profile: Nina Hood, head of residential property at Thomson Hayton Winkley
Nina Hood is the head of residential property at Cumbria firm Thomson Hayton Winkley. She is a licensed conveyancer with more than 25 years’ experience in the property sector. Nina leads a 14-strong team of fee earners, trainees and support staff, as well as running a caseload of her own. She is passionate about supporting […]
Beyond paper and portals: What digital conveyancing really means for modern law firms
As the rush to adopt AI solutions in the legal sector gathers pace, Ben Mills, commercial director at legal tech company Minerva, explains why the customer experience should lead the way when it comes to deciding the tools to deploy. Digital conveyancing has been a fixture of the legal sector for well over a […]
Mandatory tax adviser registration: The question firms are still avoiding
As HMRC remains steadfast in its insistence conveyancers must register as tax advisers in the face of ongoing objections, the Law Society of England and Wales has shared its own detailed guidance to help conveyancers approach the changes. With the confusion showing no sign of abating with just days to go to the registration commencement, […]
Making legal technology work harder for law firms
Are law firms making the most of their technology investment? Most businesses only use a fraction of the capability of their existing technology, underestimating what platforms such as Microsoft 365 or their case management systems can already do. As a result, firms often purchase overlapping software that performs similar functions, increasing cost and complexity without […]
Diary of a High Street Conveyancer – At what cost?
I read this week that the cost of practising certificates is set to increase. It seems to me that it is costing more and more to be a solicitor, especially within a conveyancing firm. And I am sure it would surprise clients to know how much has to be paid before we can even open […]
Brand came 13th: What 1,000 consumers actually told us about how the choose a law firm
Sam Borrett, founder of Legmark, ran a survey of 1,000 UK adults to find out how people really pick a law firm and what’s important to them when choosing. The results are uncomfortable reading for anyone whose marketing strategy leans on heritage, awards or a sleek brand, and quietly hopeful for everyone else. I’ve spent […]
What does agentic diligence actually look like?
Ed Molyneux has spent recent weeks explaining what AI can do, where it fails, and why provenance and shared data matter. Now he walks through a day in the life of a buyer’s conveyancer working with an AI agent on a live transaction — and invites the profession to consider what changes and what stays […]
Searches, supplier panels and the question of consumer choice in conveyancing
In the debate over conditional selling by estate agents, are conveyancers throwing stones in glass houses? Daniel Hamilton-Charlton, CEO of Property Searches Direct, examines the process surrounding conveyancing searches. There is an increasing conversation within conveyancing circles about conditional selling in estate agency practice, particularly where consumers are encouraged or required to use in-house […]
Profile: Paula Higgins, CEO and founder of HomeOwners Alliance
Paula Higgins is the founder and CEO of HomeOwners Alliance, which exists to give practical help to homeowners facing some of the biggest and most complex decisions of their lives. At www.hoa.org.uk visitors will find independent tips across every aspect of buying, owning and selling. A respected commentator and advocate for homeowners, Paula is regularly […]
I recently met a contented conveyancer
Rob Hailstone recounts an experience with a contented conveyancer, and learns that an earlier instruction can go a long way when it comes to keeping the professionals happy. A few days ago, I was invited to the head office of a major lender, an eye-opening experience, though that’s a story for another time. Since […]
Diary of a High Street Conveyancer – Clarity over client boundaries
It is always interesting /frustrating/irritating (add further words as needed!} to come back into work after a Bank Holiday and open the inbox to be met with a deluge of emails. Not only that, a quick glance at social media and there are a myriad of people suggesting we should be giving updates to clients […]
When it comes to mental health, small actions can make a real difference
As Mental Health Awareness Week approaches, LawCare, the mental health charity for the legal sector, explains how small changes can make a big difference when it comes to dealing with the pressures of legal life. This Mental Health Awareness Week (11–17 May) is a reminder that we need to keep talking about mental health, […]
What is the impact of the Middle East conflict on the property market?
In a slightly shorter podcast host David Opie welcomes on usual guests Ben Robinson and Rob Gurney of Landmark to discuss their latest Property Trends Report for the first quarter of 2026. It’s a mixed picture with plenty to be positive about… but how much of the last three months remains relevant against a backdrop […]
Why tmGroup is backing the National Property Transaction Network
As digital transformation begins to pick up pace, with high street lenders Lloyds Banking Group and NatWest both announcing digital transaction milestones in recent weeks, property technology provider tmGroup explains why it’s getting behind an industry initiative to standardise data. The announcement last week that Lloyds Banking Group, Connells Group and LMS have launched […]
Complaints, context and the case for better communication in conveyancing
In her regular monthly column, the Conveyancing Association’s director of delivery Beth Rudolf looks behind the headline statistics from the Legal Ombudsman’s complaints data, and finds a reassuring theme. Apparently, 87% of clients are happy with their conveyancer and it is easy for us to do even better. Yet, recent headlines on the Legal […]
Two things are quietly slotting into place that will change how conveyancing gets done within 18 months
Every major AI company in the world has agreed on a single way for AI agents to connect to external data, and Microsoft has already shipped it in Teams. Meanwhile, the UK property industry has been building its own open data standard, now live with Lloyds, Connells and LMS. Ed Molyneux explains why these two […]
Profile: Lorna Thomson, partner and head of residential conveyancing at Clifton Ingram
Lorna Thomson is a partner and head of residential conveyancing at Clifton Ingram, bringing decades of experience in property law to her role. Having qualified in the 1990s, she has built a career spanning both residential and commercial property. She now leads a busy and growing team of lawyers and support staff across three offices […]