Conveyancer shortage prompts recruitment drive for 2,000

The Council for Licensed Conveyancers (CLC) has launched a recruitment campaign targeting 2,000 additional conveyancers by 2030, as the profession faces a significant workforce shortage that may be contributing to property transaction delays and fall-throughs.

The initiative, titled ‘Project 2,000 Lawyers’, comes as the number of solicitors conducting conveyancing work in England and Wales has declined from 13,000 in 2021 to approximately 10,000 currently—a drop of 23% in four years.

Transaction capacity concerns

According to CLC estimates, recruiting 2,000 additional conveyancers could support up to 400,000 more property transactions annually. The organisation argues that the current workforce shortage is contributing to delays in the home-buying process and increased transaction fall-through rates.

Sheila Kumar, Chief Executive at CLC, stated: “The Government’s Jobs Plan confirms what the CLC has consistently argued: UK growth, housing delivery and home buying and selling reform depend on a larger, diverse and highly skilled licensed conveyancing workforce.”

The recruitment drive follows government recognition of the need to promote careers in conveyancing to support planned reforms of the home-buying process. This comes at a time when property transaction challenges are affecting various sectors of the market.

Market demand and salaries

Data from Indeed.com in 2024 showed conveyancer vacancies had increased by 111% year-on-year, with average salaries reaching £53,000. The recruitment gap reflects broader pressures on the property transaction process, which has implications for both buyers and industry professionals across the sector.

Kumar addressed concerns about technology replacing conveyancers, stating: “In an AI-enabled world, appropriately qualified individuals become more important, not less.”

The CLC is calling on conveyancing practices across England and Wales to develop internal talent and attract new staff, supporting them through qualification and licensing processes. The organisation describes licensed conveyancers as “the legal engine of the built environment and housing market” who protect consumers and lenders whilst safeguarding high-value assets.

Industry implications

The workforce shortage in conveyancing has potential implications for property market efficiency and transaction volumes. With the government targeting increased housing delivery and transaction reform, the availability of qualified conveyancers may become a limiting factor in market capacity.

The success of the recruitment drive could affect transaction timelines and completion rates across the property market, particularly as demand for housing services continues to fluctuate in response to economic conditions and lending market dynamics.

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