Diary of a high street conveyancer: 14th April 2024
Something has been bothering me this week; you know that niggling thing in the back of your mind that you can’t quite put your finger on… Well, I think I know what it is so let me try and share my thoughts with you It seems to me that firms charge more for acting in […]
What is a digital property logbook?
What are digital property logbooks, and why are they important to the future of property transactions? To answer these questions, and more, the Today’s Conveyancer podcast welcomes on Nigel Walley; founder and CEO of property logbook company Chimni, and Chair of the Residential Logbook Association. Nigel explains what the key differences between logbooks and Google […]
AML Compliance: Comprehensive Guide to Source of Funds for Conveyancers and Legal Practitioners
Compliance with Anti-Money Laundering is crucial for maintaining the integrity of financial transactions in the realm of conveyancing and property transactions. At the core of this endeavour is the verification of the source of funds, which is essential for identifying and mitigating money laundering risks. To help conveyancers and legal practitioners navigate this process better, […]
Diary of a high street conveyancer: 8th April
I have a long standing client (who was a friend before he was a client) and he sometimes ‘dabbles’ in property. You know the sort of client I mean – always looking for that property which will make him some easy money. He will call me on a Tuesday morning to tell me that he […]
Confessions of a cyber conveyancer
The previously serene waters of the conveyancing world have been experiencing a little turbulence over the last few months. There are concerns that Material Information ( MI ) is the thin end of a particularly fat wedge that undermines the lawyer, resulting in the end of proper conveyancing as we know it. Then there are […]
Reducing the compliance burden and improving the transaction experience
Compliance business boss Tim Barnett joins the latest Today’s Conveyancer Podcast to discuss the work being done to improve the process, and experience for consumers, of anti-money laundering, customer due diligence and know your client verification. As CEO of ID and AML verification business Credas, Tim is well aware of the challenges this presents to […]
Recognising the vital work of conveyancers
Reflecting on National Conveyancing Week (NCW), we want to take this valuable opportunity to catch up with and pay tribute to conveyancers. Considerable challenges persist within the property sector. We recognise the increased demands and pressures on the valuable service you provide and we fully support the critical role you continue to play in every property […]
First things first – getting the basics right
I am excited to be writing this, my first blog, for Today’s Media. I qualified in 1996, and left private practice in 2012 to co-found The CS Partnership. The CS Partnership is a consultancy for law firms founded by ex-lawyers who wanted to help the profession deal with the modernisation it was facing. I am […]
How open data standards empower conveyancers to shape future of property transactions
In the dynamic realm of property transactions, conveyancers lead the way on seamless transitions, guiding clients through the intricate process of buying or selling. As technology continues to reshape industries worldwide, conveyancers are now on the cusp of embracing a new frontier: open data standards. At first glance, the notion of standardised property data may […]
Online no substitute for face-to-face says industry veteran
Online meetings are no substitute for face-to-face meetings and would facilitate more harmonious relationships between estate and conveyancers says the founder of membership body Bold Legal Group, Rob Hailstone. In his 50th year in conveyancing, Hailstone has issued a rallying call to the profession to ‘unite, not fight’ in the wake of National Conveyancing Week […]
Interview: Sarah Bent, Partner and Head of Residential Conveyancing at Hegarty’s
Today’s Conveyancer recently sat down with Sarah Bent, Partner and Head of Residential Conveyancing at Hegarty’s. Sarah has been with the firm for 14 years, after starting as an admin assistant. Hegarty has also just celebrated 50 years of operation. Sarah shares insights into her multifaceted role both at home and in the office. Having […]
Diary of a high street conveyancer: 11th March 2024
There are times in a conveyancer’s working life when we think – wow, that is like an exam question – so how about this for a transaction I am presently acting it but set as an exam question. Josephine is selling her house. Her intention is to move in with her boyfriend and then he […]
From Factories to Flats: Building a Property Provenance Machine
Before diving into the wild world of proptech, I spent many years in manufacturing engineering. In manufacturing, data is omnipresent – from part measurement data and line rates to the speed and temperature of individual servo motors. The provenance of this data was assured and never needed a second thought. But stepping into the property […]
Streamlining Your Conveyancing Operations with 4 Technology Innovations
Conveyancing is almost as old as private property itself, but it certainly doesn’t sit still. Over the years, various internal and market factors have changed the conventions of conveyancing and set new standards that conveyancers have needed to adopt to meet client expectations. There have been a number of technological advancements in recent years that […]
Diary of a high street conveyancer: 3rd March 2024
When I sit back and think about the job I do, I know that it is not just about law. It is about being the trusted confidant with the law in the background and there are occasions when it is like a game of poker. That client who has a survey report which reveals far […]
Law firms and leadership – the skill of profitable delegation
The Today’s Conveyancer podcast welcome Dan Warburton on to discuss the topic of leadership. Dan works with law firms leaders and partners to elevate their leadership skills to enable them empower staff to be more efficient and effective. Dan describes his work as “the skill of profitable delegation;” to create leaders who can deliver high […]
Confessions of a cyber conveyancer
When it comes to understanding and measuring risk, I’ve always said that technology beats humans every day of the week. Machines don’t suffer from a bad night’s sleep, being lectured by a client for being too slow or face the wrath of the other side for daring to raise enquiries, resulting in rushed decisions. That […]
From Leaseholds to Freeholds: Exploring Property Law Changes in England
The property industry has seen substantial changes since the address made by King Charles in the last quarter of 2023 regarding property reform laws for the UK. The aim of these laws is to afford property owners and renters more rights to the lands that they live on. While these bills were announced last year, […]
Leasehold reform: Are leaseholds becoming the best option for first-time buyers?
Leaseholds are changing in 2024. The Land Registry is introducing a reform to the current leasehold system in their 2022+ Strategy. This will focus on making the purchase and sale of property much easier by enabling the entire process to be completed and providing accessible and real-time data on properties throughout the UK. Alongside this, […]
How conveyancers can protect themselves against a cyber attack
The sensitive personal data that’s collected – addresses, names, financial information or property deeds, and the large sums of money handled make conveyancers a prime target for hackers. In fact, cybercrime remains one of the biggest threats in the legal industry, and it makes up 75 per cent of the crime reported by UK law […]