Conveyancing Issues for 2021

Given high workloads and ever more demanding clients, the idea of putting aside some time for training might be far from most people’s minds.

Current exceptional circumstances mean that face to face training is now also a thing of the past, but there are several training opportunities that enable conveyancers to ensure that they are up to date with developments in law and practice.

What is available:

• Free Resources: There are a number of websites containing valuable information such as the Leasehold Advisory Service and Leasehold Knowledge Partnership. There are also less well-known sources and resources such as the Property Litigation Association, Property Protocols and the City of London Law Society.
• Barristers Chambers: Just about every property or chancery set in the country publish articles and papers on topics relevant to transactional property lawyers.
• Local Law Societies provide cost effective training, and most are now delivering training on web-based platforms. Several local law societies I deliver training for have embraced the idea of providing one-hour training sessions that are useful, informative and provide flexible learning opportunities for their teams.
• Title Indemnity Insurers and Search Providers are sponsoring training webinars and so courses can be provided at no cost on a regular basis. Stewart Title, Searchflow and Index, with whom I regularly work, provide training webinars for conveyancing customers and the profession at large. I have recently been involved in two webinars that concentrate on key case law and the issue of restrictive covenants where the lawyers involved and myself have examined the cases to explore the practical implications of the issues involved. High delegate numbers in attendance provide testimony to the value of the training provided. Webinars are generally recorded and so are available to view after the event. 

• Traditional resources such as the Law Society Gazette and Estates Gazette should not be overlooked and more recent publications such as Todays Conveyancer bring current issues and age-old problems s into focus.

• Training providers such as my own company, IQ Legal Training, are geared up to provide webinars from thirty-minute snapshots on key topics, to half or full day online training events. By utilising online technologies, such webinars can be far more interactive than you might expect.

• In addition to ensuring that you keep up to date and informed with the latest developments and industry trends, you might consider training opportunities for your support staff. IQ Legal Training offers training courses for secretaries, paralegals, and trainees, that are delivered regularly throughout the year. We provide 12 one-hour webinars, taking delegates through the conveyancing process from start to finish, examining law, procedure, problems, and pitfalls. An extensive manual is provided, and delegates are given the opportunity to ask questions throughout. Webinars are recorded and I deliver the course personally. Why not develop the skills of your support staff so that they can provide additional support. Perhaps you will have more time for yourself, or perish the thought, time for a home life, gardening, or even more training!

Ian Quayle is Chief executive, of IQ Legal Training Limited , which provides conveyancing and property law training provider to the legal profession. For more information or details of courses and training available call: 07471 125651, email: info@iqlegaltraining.com, or visit: https://iqlegaltraining.com.