Temporary recruitment page launched for those affected by PM Law closure

Today’s Conveyancer has launched a temporary recruitment page to list conveyancing roles for those affected by the closure of PM Law and its subsidiaries.

The Sheffield-based firm closed on Monday leaving its 650 staff seeking new employment. Speaking to Today’s Conveyancer, employees explained they were told not to come into the office on Monday, or had arrived at work only to be told the company had ceased trading. Details are yet to fully emerge; the PM Law website is now longer active, along with it’s subsidiary websites.

A notice on the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) website advises:

“We understand that Butterworths / PM Law Limited has closed suddenly and not in a manner we would expect. We are in contact with the firm and will take appropriate action to make sure clients are protected.

“We expect that those affected should be updated soon. There is no further information we can provide at this time. We will update our website when we have more information. Thank you for your understanding.”

There have been calls for greater transparency on the part of the SRA with staff, firms and homeowners all affected. In a letter to the SRA shared with this publication the Society of Licensed Conveyancers (SLC) have called for ‘urgent clarity’:

“There are many Licensed Conveyancers employed by PM Property Lawyers and other law firms who are part of the PM Group who are members of the SLC.

“Our members have no computer systems or telephone systems to communicate with their clients, some of whom were expecting to complete on home purchase and sales yesterday and today. Our members have clients knocking at their office doors and are unable to give them any information as to what is happening.

“It seems unconscionable that the SRA has not intervened or communicated in any way about what is happening at PM Law.

“There is considerable consumer detriment in play, and our members are placed in a totally unacceptable position, which includes being subject to abuse.

“We should be grateful for an urgent update on the action that is being taken by the SRA.”

In response to the closure, many of those affected took to social media, and in particular LinkedIn, to announce their search for a new role. A call for firms to place their vacancies on a LinkedIn post curated by this publication has resulted in a number of firms sharing details of job opportunities. Today’s Conveyancer has collated these roles into a temporary vacancies page, alongside contact details, to enable professionals to make contact with firms looking to recruit.

We invite organisations to continue sharing their roles with us in order to keep the list as active as possible. For anyone wishing to share the vacancy please send details to press@todaysconveyancer.co.uk.

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