Choosing the Right Property Lawyer: Why It Matters More Than You Think

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This episode might be a little longer than some of the others, but I wanted to take the time to talk about the current state of the property lawyer sector, because your choice here can fundamentally shape your entire moving experience.

Throughout this episode, you’ll hear me use terms like property lawyer, conveyancer, and solicitor. There are lots of terms used in this space, but for clarity, conveyancing is the legal process of transferring a property from one person to another. The people who carry out that work may be solicitors or licensed conveyancers, but whichever term I use, I’m referring to the property lawyer handling your transaction.

Choosing the right property lawyer is absolutely vital to how your transaction plays out. Unfortunately, many people now see conveyancing as purely transactional. Often that’s because they’re moving to a different area and feel they need someone local, or, more commonly, because they’re encouraged to use the conveyancer recommended by the estate agent.

Some people agree to that recommendation because they believe it improves their chances of securing the property. Others simply don’t realise how important this decision really is.

I take a very different view. I found an excellent conveyancer many years ago, and I stick with them for every transaction, regardless of where the property is.

Why? Because a good conveyancer does not need to be local to the property, they need to be responsive, experienced, and capable. And perhaps more importantly, I know what’s out there.

What am I encouraging you to be cautious of?

An entire industry exists called panel management. Panel management companies effectively control large volumes of conveyancing work, often sourced through estate agents. In return, estate agents receive referral fees and, in some cases, access to other instructions such as part exchanges, assisted sales, or asset-managed properties.

On the surface, this may sound convenient.

But the reality for the home mover can be very different. When conveyancing firms are working at extremely high volumes, clients can quickly become numbers rather than individuals. Some conveyancers are managing pipelines of two hundred, even three hundred live files at any one time.

In that environment, even a simple transaction can get lost amongst more complex cases. Progress slows, communication becomes difficult, and the process turns into a shouting match, with the perception that whoever makes the most noise gets attention first. That is incredibly stressful, and it leaves people feeling helpless and wondering why everything is taking so long.

By contrast, I’m aware of conveyancing practices that will not allow their staff to handle more than fifty live files at any one time. That allows them to manage enquiries properly, communicate clearly, and deliver a genuinely good client experience.

Ask yourself this: would you rather work with a conveyancer who knows your name and recognises your voice, and you know theirs, or would you rather deal with a faceless organisation where you’re simply a reference number? I know which I’d choose.

My advice is simple. Engage with conveyancing firms yourself. Ask clear questions about their costs and, just as importantly, about the service they provide. I’d even go so far as to ask how many live files each conveyancer typically handles. You want to work with a business that values service, not just volume.

Conveyancing does not have to take as long as it often does. But while so many transactions are channelled through high-volume, panel-managed models, delays and poor experiences will continue. Estate agents also have a role to play here, by working with high-quality local conveyancers who can genuinely deliver good outcomes, rather than defaulting to panel-driven arrangements.

Choosing the right property lawyer won’t eliminate every challenge, but it can significantly reduce stress, improve communication, and help keep your move on track.

Thanks for listening to this episode of Moving Home, Uncovered. If you found this useful, subscribe so you don’t miss future episodes, and head over to propertysearchesdirect.co.uk/podcast to send me your questions. I’ll cover them in future episodes to help make moving home a smoother, less stressful experience for everyone.