The Council for Licensed Conveyancers’ (CLC) has launched an accelerated route to qualification for fee earners with experience in conveyancing and probate.
The ‘professional experience’ route allows fee earners to bypass the Level 4 Diploma, which qualifies them as a conveyancing or probate technician, and progress directly to the Level 6 Diploma, after which they can work as a licensed conveyancer or probate practitioner.
The exemption aims to recognise those who have already built up years of fee earning experience, subject to strict criteria, namely that they must:
- Be currently working in a qualifying law or accountancy firm in England and Wales
- Have at least four years of continuous experience as a conveyancing or probate fee earner
- Be supervised by an authorised person
- Meet the competency standards set out in the CLC’s Statement of Occupational Experience
- Provide a signed letter of support from their employer confirming their role and responsibilities.
Candidates must prove their eligibility before they can take advantage of the new qualification route, which for employers is also an effective way to tackle the shortage of authorised persons in conveyancing and probate.
Claire Richardson, director of authorisations at the CLC, said:
“This is a fantastic way to recognise and make better use of the valuable contribution of those who have the skills, the expertise and the experience by gaining a qualification that paves the way to becoming a fully licensed lawyer.
“Candidates will still undergo rigorous assessment, but more weight will be given to their practical experience. This will hopefully embolden more people, perhaps those have taken time out and are daunted at the thought of returning to study, to realise their potential, underlining the CLC’s continued commitment to making qualifications as inclusive and accessible as possible while maintaining our usual high standards.”
Simon Law, chair of The Society of Licensed Conveyancers (SLC), added:
“The SLC welcomes this new route to qualification, which represents an important step forward in ensuring that conveyancing remains an attractive and accessible profession. By creating a more flexible pathway, we hope it will encourage a new generation of aspiring fee earners to begin their journey towards achieving the CLC qualification and building long-term careers within the sector.
“In addition, we strongly encourage practices to support their junior colleagues by registering them as conveyancing technicians. This not only provides valuable structure and recognition at an early stage but also helps keep high professional standards. Together, we can ensure that the profession continues to thrive and that consumers benefit from a well-trained, highly capable workforce.”
