Judge Spotlight: Jane King

Judge Spotlight: Jane King

Judging awards ceremonies can often be a thankless task. But without the support of the people who spend hours toiling away reviewing the submissions, the awards simply would not happen.

On behalf of Today’s Conveyancer and Headline Sponsor Dye & Durham, we are incredibly grateful to all our judging panel who we are showcasing through this short series of articles in the run up to The British Conveyancing Awards 2022.

If the 2021 ceremony was about recognising all those in the industry who have helped people move home during the most challenging year the conveyancing industry has perhaps ever seen, the focus for the 2022 ceremony is on where the industry is going.

Against a backdrop of a flatter market, increasing on and offline fraud risks, PII, the balance of flexible working and continued digitisation practitioners face new and evolving challenges.

So how do we set about judging an industry which is now looking ahead to what 2022 and beyond brings? It was a question we put to Jane King as they prepare to assess the submissions.

First of all, tell us who you are and what you do.

Hello, my name is Jane King and I am an independent mortgage and equity release Adviser.

Why did you choose to support The British Conveyancing Awards (again) in 2022?

I like the idea of highlighting talented people and companies and this seemed a very good environment in which to showcase the talent that is in the Conveyancing industry which often suffers from a bad rep.

What do you think the biggest challenges and opportunities are for conveyancers in 2022 and beyond?

Meeting their client expectations – the time taken to do this work seems to take longer and longer and ways must be made to speed up the process so that buyers and sellers can complete their transactions more quickly.

In your day to day role, what have you seen from law firms that has stood out for you in terms of innovation or adaptation in the “new normal?”

I was recently introduced to conveyancer portals where their clients can upload information and documentation straight to their conveyancer together with messages outlining any queries,  therefore bypassing emails and spending inordinate amounts of time on hold when phoning with queries and questions.

Why do you think firms should enter the British Conveyancing Awards?

To highlight their talent and to showcase any innovation and ideas that they feel deserve recognition both amongst their peers and to the wider public.

Which of this year’s categories stand out for you and why?

The Boutique conveyancing firm of the year. All too often it’s the same, large firms that win awards year after year. I am pleased to see a category for smaller, more bespoke firms offering a tailored service for their clients.

What are you looking for in the submissions and what differentiates a winning entry from the rest?

I am looking for a submission that is very personal to the writer. I have judged before where entries are copied and pasted from other entries and are full of clichés and soundbites which the writer feels will impress. These are easy to spot and so for me a winning entry will be a submission that has stuck to the brief but with a personal touch.

Thank you to Jane King for their support for The British Conveyancing Awards 2022.

Join the Conversation #BCAwards2022

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