Today's Conveyancer Podcast

In this latest episode of the Today's Conveyancer podcast, host David Opie speaks with Sally Holdway. 

Having started out life as a high street conveyancer, Sally has moved through a series of roles leading innovation at large conveyancing firms and QualitySolicitors before setting up Teal Legal in 2018. 

Sally now devotes much of her time to exploring new technology opportunities for law firms with the aim of combining data and technology to improve the home-moving process. 

Research conducted by Teal Legal has revealed that upto 20% of a conveyancer's time is spent collating information to report on, whether it be back to the lender or the client. Far from doing the conveyancer's job, Sally firmly believes that technology offers the opportunity to reduce the time spent collecting and interpreting data, with instant access to information increasing efficiency and improving the transaction for all, not least the conveyancer who can actually be left to do the legal work. 

In this episode Sally discusses the current technologies which she would urge law firms to explore, which are most likely to impact efficiency and client experience, ranging from HM Land Registry’s Register Extract Service, to the multiple new opportunities coming down the line.  She also discusses what this might mean for how conveyancing is carried out over the coming months and years.

This episode was recorded before the announcement of the death of Queen Elizabeth II. Any reference to "Queen" within the podcast is not an intentional reference to the events of Thursday 8th September, and there is no intention to offend. 

The Today's Conveyancer podcast can be found on your preferred podcast provider and also at www.todaysconveyancer.co.uk. Subscribe and listen in for all the latest conveyancing industry news and views. 

Thank you to our podcast sponsors LEAP Legal Software and InfoTrack

As one of the most divisive subjects of recent times climate change is a challenging topic for many of us.

When it comes to conveyancing there is a feeling of dread. Is this yet another issue conveyancers need to report on to clients?  How much is it going to cost in terms of expense and time when fees are already squeezed (and that's putting it mildly!).

And how much do clients really care? They've fallen in love with the property, is this another roadblock to securing their dream home?

Joining host David Opie to discuss this challenging topic is Groundsure Marketing Director David Kempster.

In an honest discussion David outlines the sense behind why the impact of climate change must be addressed when it comes to the UK's housing stock. How moves to improve energy efficiency will increase costs for landlords in the short term (retrofitting energy efficiency into properties built in the 20th century will prove costly!) and drive them out of the rental market, releasing a raft of homes for first time buyers.

Whether they like it or not, addressing climate change will impact the conveyancing industry and David urges conveyancers to get to grips with the requirements now given the emphasis both government and lenders are placing on it.

Resources:
The Chancery Lane Project
Law Society Resolution on Climate Change

The Today's Conveyancer podcast can be found on your preferred podcast provider and also at www.todaysconveyancer.co.uk. Subscribe and listen in for all the latest conveyancing industry news and views. 

Thank you to our podcast sponsors LEAP Legal Software and InfoTrack

In a post-pandemic society "the new normal" has come to symbolise the way in which our personal and business lives have changed following the significant upheaval of the last 2 years.

But what does a "new normal" mean in the property industry?

Following a survey of over 700 property professionals we can reveal exactly what it means  as host David Opie is joined by tmgroup's CEO Joe Pepper and mio Sales Director Nick Ball to discuss their research report "The New Normal."

Released in January 2022, 8 months on Joe and Nick talk about the progress being made and how we are faring against those early 2022 predictions. And how have firms reacted in the months since the end of the SDLT relief and the overwhelming demand played on the conveyancing by the home moving frenzy of 2021?

Have things really changed for conveyancers after the "call to arms" of the last couple of years? Or are firms still reliant on the "extraordinary dedication of their people" as the report details?

Listen in to hear Joe and Nick's thoughts and the results of "The New Normal" which can be downloaded here: https://www.tmgroup.co.uk/the-new-normal/.

The Today's Conveyancer podcast can be found on your preferred podcast provider and also at www.todaysconveyancer.co.uk. Subscribe and listen in for all the latest conveyancing industry news and views. 

Thank you to our podcast sponsors LEAP Legal Software and InfoTrack

In this latest podcast from Today's Conveyancer host David Opie is joined by Mustafa Hassan, a consultant solicitor with law firm Taylor Rose MW. 

An increasingly popular employment model, Mustafa, a residential and commercial property practitioner, discusses the reasons why he first investigated the opportunity to become a consultant solicitor, and the drawbacks and benefits as he sees them. 

Taylor Rose MW, alongside others like gunnercooke and Setfords, have adopted the consultant model to offer an alternative employment structure, with all the pros and cons of self employment, under the umbrella of a large and well strcutured firm. 

Mustafa discusses some of the practicalities including PI, workload, client ownership, marketing and much more in this warts and all podcast discussing the consultant solicitor model. 

The Today's Conveyancer podcast can be found on your preferred podcast provider and also at www.todaysconveyancer.co.uk. Subscribe and listen in for all the latest conveyancing industry news and views. 

Thank you to our podcast sponsors LEAP Legal Software and InfoTrack

Following the passing of the Economic Crime (Transparency and Enforcement) Act 2022 implemented in the wake of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the government has introduced a new anti-money laundering measure designed to tackle the opaque nature of foreign ownership in the UK property market.

1% of all UK residential property is now in foreign ownership, a figure that has tripled since 2010. 

In this latest podcast David Opie is joined by Executive Chairman of Armalytix Mike Ward to discuss what the Register of Overseas Entities (ROE) is, and what the implications are for conveyancing firms. 

This timely discussion, with the legislation coming into effect from 1st August 2022, is a must listen for all conveyancers as regardless of their own client base, there is a chance in the not too distant future of chains involving overseas entities breaking down because the foreign entities are unable to submit their registration to Companies House. 

The Today's Conveyancer podcast can be found on your preferred podcast provider and also at www.todaysconveyancer.co.uk. Subscribe and listen in for all the latest conveyancing industry news and views. 

Thank you to our podcast sponsors LEAP Legal Software and InfoTrack

Burnout is a subject close to the heart of conveyancers up and down the country following the challenges of the last couple of years. 

In this episode of the Today's Conveyancer podcast, host David Opie is joined by Lead Steele, a coach and trainer for law firms and founder of Searching for Serenity. 

As a former lawyer, Leah is well versed in the culture of law firms having gone through her own experiences of burnout.  She now spends her time helping others understand burnout, how to better understand its impact and what practical steps can be taken to support ourselves and those around us. 

In a fascinating discussion Leah explores how we can recognise the symptoms of burnout and points to both personal and organisational factors as critical to better understanding its impact and what lessons we can take as individuals and employers. 

Significantly Leah dispels the myth that stress is always bad. Yes, there are bad types of stress, but stress can also push us, and motivate us to achieve. 

The Today's Conveyancer podcast can be found on your preferred podcast provider and also at www.todaysconveyancer.co.uk. Subscribe and listen in for all the latest conveyancing industry news and views. 

Thank you to our podcast sponsors LEAP Legal Software and InfoTrack

In this episode of the Today's Conveyancer podcast, host David Opie is joined by solicitor and Director at Big Yellow Penguin Ltd Shaun Jardine to discuss the opportunity for conveyancing firms to charge more for their work.

Value is in the eye of the beholder, so they saying goes, and Shaun, an experienced ex-Managing Partner of a large Midlands law firm, outlines his view of how firms are undervaluing their service.

In an "unscientific LinkedIn survey" Shaun established that 78% of consumers would pay over £2000 for the conveyance of a property worth £650,000. And yet, a subsequent online search found that none of the online quotation engines tested provided a figure any where near that.

In the course of the illuminating discussion Shaun discusses his tactics for helping conveyancing firms understand the needs and wants of home movers, before providing a price.

And if the client doesn't want to pay it, walk away, because it's not worth your time.  

The Today's Conveyancer podcast can be found on your preferred podcast provider and also at www.todaysconveyancer.co.uk. Subscribe and listen in for all the latest conveyancing industry news and views. 

Thank you to our podcast sponsors LEAP Legal Software and InfoTrack

With more information coming out about the planned National Trading Standards Estate and Letting Agency Team (NTSELAT) vision for making "material information" available up front for homebuyers, this latest Today's Conveyancer podcast explores what the knock on benefit for conveyancers is. 

It is anticipated that by better understanding the full extent of the transaction at the outset, conveyancers will be able to price more effectively, accounting for any transactional anomalies or complications, and allocate resource appropriately.

David Opie is joined by Jason Howarth, founder of Veya (not Veyo!)  to discuss how conveyancers can get more involved in the home moving process at an earlier stage and work with the agent and home mover to fully understand 

• any potential pitfalls with the house of their dreams
• how best to navigate them to ensure a speedy resolution
• how this can lead to a smoother moving experience all round 

With the launch of Part A, organisations marketing properties must include

"information that, regardless of outcome, is always considered material for all properties regardless of location. This information generally involves unavoidable costs that will be incurred by the occupier regardless of the use of the property."

Currently this includes Price/Rent, Tenure and Council Tax Band. Parts B and C will include "non-standard" features. 

The Today's Conveyancer podcast can be found on your preferred podcast provider and also at www.todaysconveyancer.co.uk. Subscribe and listen in for all the latest conveyancing industry news and views. 

Thank you to our podcast sponsors LEAP Legal Software and InfoTrack

In this week's Today's Conveyancer podcast, host David Opie is joined by marketing guru, Clare Fanner. 

Clare has held senior marketing roles in law firms and is well placed to provide her take on what conveyancers should, and shouldn't(!) be doing, as well as the future of marketing in law firms.

 In her current role, as founder of Law Firm Marketing Club, Clare provides a range of resources for lawyers and law firms to help them in their day-to-day marketing challenges.  

Are law firms under-resourced when it comes to their marketing investment? Or is there a lack of direction and understanding about the value of marketing? Is marketing becoming a much more specialised function with different skill sets required for paid advertising and social media management for example. 

Happily, Clare sees some real positives... there is greater representation of marketing considerations at a senior level. Clare shares her thoughts on the value of marketing across the firm and provides her tips on making the most of your marketing resource, borne out of her experience working in law firms.

The Today's Conveyancer podcast can be found on your preferred podcast provider and also at www.todaysconveyancer.co.uk. Subscribe and listen in for all the latest conveyancing industry news and views. 

Thank you to our podcast sponsors LEAP Legal Software and InfoTrack

In this episode of the Today's Conveyancer podcast David Opie is joined by Ombudsman at The Legal Ombudsman, Jason Chapman.

The Legal Ombudsman was introduced in 2010, replacing the Legal Complaints Commission and in the course of discussion Jason reveals that conveyancing is one of the most complained about areas of law 

In total the Ombudsman deals with about 6000 cases per year, of which 1/3rd are related to conveyancing. In general, between 10-30% of complaints are taken forward to final decision and 48-50% complaints are upheld.

 In the course of the discussion Jason outlines some of the main areas of complaints, and provides some thoughts on how best to avoid complaints in the first place, and deal with them most effectively as and when they do happen. 

Jason also discusses the impact of the SDLT exemption and extension, which had a huge impact on conveyancers at the time, and an unintended knock-on impact on other areas of service delivery for law firms. 

The Today's Conveyancer podcast can be found on your preferred podcast provider and also at www.todaysconveyancer.co.uk. Subscribe and listen in for all the latest conveyancing industry news and views. 

Thank you to our podcast sponsors LEAP Legal Software and InfoTrack