Licensed conveyancer

You could apply to do a Legal Technician - Conveyancing Technician or Probate Technician Level 4 Higher Apprenticeship. This would qualify you to work as conveyancing or probate technician.

Afterwards, you might move onto a Licensed Conveyancer or Licensed Probate Practitioner Level 6 Degree Apprenticeship.

These apprenticeships can take between 2 and 5 years to complete and combine on-the-job training and time spent with a learning provider.

Entry requirements

Employers will set their own entry requirements.

You could start in a conveyancing, probate or private client office office and work your way up by training to become a registered conveyancing or probate technician .

To become a registered conveyancing or probate technician, you'll need:

• 6 months' practical experience in a probate or conveyancing practice, in a legal firm or in an organisation offering probate services to the public
• to apply for registration with the Council for Licensed Conveyancers

You could then take the Level 6 Diploma in Conveyancing Law and Practice to qualify as a qualified licensed conveyancer.

You can take the following qualifications through the Council for Licensed Conveyancers :

• Level 4 Diploma in Conveyancing Law and Practice
• Level 4 Diploma in Probate Law and Practice
• Level 6 Diploma in Conveyancing Law and Practice
• Level 6 Diploma in Probate Law and Practice

You can start studying even if you're not working in the legal profession. Each diploma takes around 18 to 24 months to complete, including practical experience.

You may be able to complete these more quickly if you already have a legal qualification, for example:

• law degree
• legal practice course
• Graduate Diploma in Law (GDL)
• Chartered Institute of Legal Executives (CILEx) Level 6 Diploma

The Level 4 Diploma would qualify you as a conveyancing technician or a probate technician, depending on which qualification you take.

The Level 6 Diploma would qualify you as a licensed conveyancer or a probate practitioner.

Registrations

you'll need to apply to the CLC  to be listed as a technician on the directory or to apply for a license to practice, so you can use the protected titles of Licensed Conveyancer or Licensed Probate Practitioner.

Further Information

You can find more details about careers in conveyancing and probate from the Council for Licensed Conveyancers.

As a licensed conveyancer, you could:

• advise clients on the property buying and selling process
• research who legally owns land and property
• draft sale contracts and make sure property taxes are paid
• talk to mortgage lenders, estate agents and solicitors
• check financial records, prepare leases and transfer documents
• keep buyers and sellers up to date with progress of a sale
• deal with exchange of contracts to complete a sale

As a licensed probate practitioner, you could:

• provide legal guidance to people to help them plan what happens to their money, property and possessions when they die
• explain the process and responsibilities to the people in charge of someone's estate
• prepare and submit legal documents
• make sure the estate is managed according to the will or inheritance rules
• keep accurate records and give clear updates
• handle the money and bills of the estate, then make sure whatever is left goes to the people who are meant to inherit it

Licensed conveyancers and licensed probate practitioners are also Commissioners for Oaths. This means they have legal authority to do things like administer oaths and witness official documents.

You could work in an office or at a client's business.