Independent estate agents outperforming corporate counterparts
In the last six months of 2012 independent estate agents in the Move with Us Partner Network held on average of 11.8% market share locally compared to the 8.8% market share held by corporate agents. According to the data from www.Home.co.uk the Move with Us Partner Network also sold properties on average of four days […]
SLC announces 2013 programme
The Society of Licensed Conveyancers (SLC) has announced its 2013 programme of events. This includes its annual conference, along with a number of regional road shows, which will run throughout the year offering access to topical presentations and CPD points. The annual conference will take place on 20th November in Derby, further details will be […]
Last chance to enter LFS Conveyancing Awards
There is just one week left to enter this year’s LFS Conveyancing Awards. Entries will close on 31st March. Firms can enter up to two categories from a list including; – Best Regional Conveyancing Firm – Best Direct Conveyancing Firm – Best Young Conveyancer (under 30) – Best use of Social Media – Best Website […]
Lawyer Checker allows Stephensons to save clients funds
Stephensons Solicitors have prevented a fraudster posing as a legitimately regulated conveyancer from conducting reserved conveyancing services. Acting in what appeared to be a normal transaction the Stephensons fee earner ordered a Lawyer Checker search. Lawyer Checker confirmed there was no track record of the sort code and account number that the fraudster provided having […]
SLC announces programme of events for 2013
The Society of Licensed Conveyancers (SLC) has announced its programme of events for 2013, to include its popular annual conference, along with a suite of regional road shows, which will run across the year and will offer access to topical presentations and valuable CPD points. As part of a member survey, which looked for feedback […]
ETSOS Announces New Anti-Money Laundering Verification Service
ETSOS the leading provider of searches to the Legal and Conveyancing sector has announced that it has agreed to supply the SmartSearch Electronic Anti-Money Laundering Verification services via the ETSOS platform. ETSOS users will now be able to gain immediate PASS/REFER results for clients without the need for traditional documents such as Passports and Driving […]
Industry response to 2013 budget
Yesterday’s budget contained plenty of potential good news for conveyancers. But what has the industry made of the measures? Help to Buy Scheme Chairman of The Conveyancing Association (CA), Eddie Goldsmith was largely positive about the announcements saying: “We welcome the Chancellor’s efforts to help reinvigorate the stagnant housing market through these measures. “So far, […]
Countrywide confirms £750 million float
We announced earlier in the year the intention of one of the UK’s largest estate agents and property services groups to float on the stock exchange, on Tuesday they announced the successful pricing of their initial public offering. Countrywide, one of the largest conveyancers in the UK, has set the price at 350 pence per […]
SRA issue alert warning of a bogus website
In their seventh alert issued during March the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) have warned the public to “be wary if they are contacted by anyone looking at a website claiming to belong to Terry Taylor and Shaw Solicitors”. The SRA say they have received information relating to a website http://www.ttshawssolicitors.net/ which relates to a firm […]
SRA issue alert warning of a bogus firm
In their eighth alert issued during March the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) have warned the public to “be wary if they are contacted by anyone anyone claiming to be from Alan Ashley & Co Advocate & Solicitors.” The SRA say they have “received information that individuals are being sent letters purportedly from Barrister Alan Ashley […]
25% Call Rise for Estates And Lettings Agents
Since the beginning of March with the traditional Easter property rush fast approaching, Moneypenny, the UK’s leading provider of telephone answering services, has recorded a spike in calls to a large number of its estate and lettings agent clients. Moneypenny currently provides telephone answering to more than 700 estate and lettings agents and has seen […]
Budget analysis 2013: what does it mean for conveyancing?
In today’s budget the Chancellor made an early nod to the regeneration of Battersea Power Station, a project that will bring a huge number of new homes to the UK market. This was a sentiment he expanded on later as he detailed the two main aspects of the government’s “help to buy” plan. Help with […]
SearchFlow Launch Individual Project Websites as Enhancement to Site Assembly
Updated web-based software allows users of Site Assembly to showcase projects to clients online Project and site document libraries, tailored plans and mapping data can now be complied and accessed securely from anywhere Individual project websites will increase the flexibility, portability and usability of the Site Assembly service SearchFlow, the conveyancing search provider, has enhanced […]
Welcome to the Brief
The 2013 legal awards season kicked off last week with the ever popular Manchester Legal Awards. Over 500 of the region’s best talent crammed into the Midland Hotel and there were a few sore heads the following morning – ours included! If you want to see who was there then check out the Gallery section […]
SRA announcement on keeping of the roll
This year solicitors will be able to complete the keeping the roll process online through the mySRA portal. The exercise will run from mid-April to mid-June. The 2013 fee of £20 will be payable by credit or debit card as part of the application process. Solicitors whose names have been on the roll for 50 […]
Today’s Conveyancer talks to Claire Barker
Claire is the managing partner of Equilaw Ltd and Chair of the Equity Release Solicitors Alliance. She took a traditional path into law, working in a residential property team in a mid-size corporate firm. This is where, 13 years ago, she started working with one of her current business partners. She set up the equity […]
Law Society issues practice note offering online guidance
The Law Society have issued a new practice note to help solicitors responsible for their firm’s online presence or marketing. It illustrates the importance of protecting and maintaining online reputation pointing out that online reputation, whether personal or corporate, can be damaged in a number of ways. The note describes steps that should be taken […]
Law Society call on conveyancers to act
Law Society Chief Executive Desmond Hudson told a meeting of the Conveyancing Association that they had a role to play in shaping the regulator. At the meeting, last Thursday, Mr Hudson talked about the changing nature of the market and said that solicitors need to respond in order to sustain their businesses. He said that […]
SRA: Reporting requirements eased on non-material breaches
The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) announced yesterday that it plans to drop the requirement for compliance officers to annually report all non-material breaches to the SRA. The decision is subject to approval from the SRA board and compliance officers for legal practice (COLPs) and finance and administration (COFAs) will still need to record non-material breaches […]
CLC launches new course
The Council for Licensed Conveyancers has launched a new course explaining the basics of conveyancing. The course is aimed at staff working in a wide range of sectors such as legal, property or financial services. Costing £225, the Conveyancing: Basic Principles in Practice course is at A Level (level 3) standard and includes six assignments. […]
