Conveyancing By Unqualified Conveyancer

[Barquentine]

Does anyone know if a law firm can have unqualified staff carrying out all aspects of a residential conveyancing transaction? The person I am referring to is nether a solicitor nor a licensed conveyancer.

[woofgang]

as I understand it (I know someone who is a solicitor) the solicitor/conveyancer can have unqualified staff working under their direction but they are responsible for what the unqualifed person does and for any screw ups

[Peter Pedant]

er yes so long as it is signed off as the supervisors
I think
BUT do it bad and you end up like this
https://bridportradio.co.uk/bridport-news/2530-solicitors-bad-practice

once 6th largest turnover - I dont think the solicitor cd supervise his wife (!) as it was meant to be arms length

[woofgang]

hmmm the second half of ther story has been removed

[Peter Pedant]

the end?
the solicitor ( who was a fambly solicitor to one of my in laws) was told that fighting these ungrounded and disgracefully untrue charges wd cost his pocket £136 000
and he said - OK I will go quietly
( wiv in AB speak 136k in his pochette that is without being £136k poorer and sanctioned and jobless)

[Barquentine]

Legal Services Act 2007 has 'reserved activities' so contracts of sale, transfers, charges, inter alia may not be drawn up by non-qualified. Nor can they issue invoices. Maybe the firm in question gets round this by having a 'supervisor' to sign off anything drafted by said person.