The Law Society Make Changes To Conveyancing Quality Scheme

The Law Society Make Changes To Conveyancing Quality Scheme

The recognised quality standard for residential conveyancing practices is being amended and changed by the Law Society.

Following feedback from conveyancers and discussions with lenders, the Law Society have looked to continually improve best practice, client delivery and practice management.

The updated system will place the three core values at the heart of its monitoring process. The Law Society claims that these values must be “demonstrably achieved by each CQS accredited firm and will form the basis of our assessment.”

Currently, the Law Society are reviewing the accreditation and re-accreditation assessments. Similarly, the Scheme Rules and Core Practice Management protocols are also being considered.

The proposed amendments and changes will be written throughout December, with accredited members being notified in the New Year.

Following the notifications, the Law Society will implement a number of on-site visits each year. They will also look to increase the number of desk-based assessments with the hope of solidifying the firm’s ability to achieve the CQS standards and values.

Whilst the process of appointing an independent assessment body is ongoing, firms should be prepared for the assessments in 2019.

The three core values that accredited members must consider are:

  1. members proactively and effectively manage risk and demonstrate behaviours that support and promote the integrity of CQS and the community
  2. members demonstrate best practice and excellence in client care through robust practice management of residential conveyancing
  3. members demonstrate through knowledge and skill in handling conveyancing transactions

Whilst the legal sector gears up for the transparency changes that are due to take place on December 6th, it is clear that accreditation and regulatory bodies are looking for legal firms to place the consumer at the heart of their business.

Is your firm Conveyancing Quality Scheme accredited? Do you welcome the upcoming changes to the scheme? Will they benefit the user experience?

Martin Parrin

Martin is a Senior Content Writer for Today’s Conveyancer, Today’s Wills and Probate, Today’s Legal Cyber Risk and Today's Family Lawyer Having qualified as a teacher, Martin previously worked as a Secondary English Teacher that responsible for Head of Communications. After recently returning to the North West from Guernsey in the Channel Islands, Martin has left teaching to start a career in writing and pursue his lifelong passion with the written word.

1 Comment

  • A few years ago, I acted as an exempt person on the sale of my late mother-in-law’s flat.

    The buyer’s solicitor was CQS accredited but failed to submit an application to the Land Registry during the currency of a search as the scheme requires

    Re-accreditation should involve use of LR open data to check a firm’s compliance

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