About CQS Conveyancing

Lexsure have announced that their Report on Title platform, e-ROT, is now integrated with search provider Seachpoint, enabling conveyancing teams to forgo manually setting up cases on the e-ROT platform. Instead, as a firm orders their search bundle the case will automatically be created pre-populated with data from Searchpoint.    With the Searchpoint integration , firms avoid any duplication of data, saving valuable time.  It’s a good example of conveyancing support services working together through integration to bring greater efficiencies and therefore value to their client firms. Simon Seaton, CEO of Lexsure, said: ‘As one of the most progressive search providers in the industry, Searchpoint is an important partner for our e-ROT system integration. From our early conversations with Searchpoint, they were clearly a natural fit for us to work with as we both have a strong commitment to innovative new technologies and outstanding law firm support.” Tony Clark...

Legal software house Lexsure has announced that it will host a three-part webinar series for property lawyers, focusing on Reports on Title . The series will run from July 2nd through July 8th, and is intended to provide valuable lessons on different aspects of the reporting process. The first webinar ‘Reports on Title: There Must be A Better Way!’ takes place on the 2nd July. This particular webinar was prompted by firms informing Lexsure that, notwithstanding case management systems, the Report on Title is the most frustrating and time-consuming document to produce in the conveyancing process. Of course, it is one of the most crucial documents. This webinar will explore new technologies available to speed up the generation of a ROT whilst simultaneously creating a more comprehensive and better risk managed document. A second webinar, on the 3rd July, covers the topical question of what essential issues should be included in a firm’s Report on Lease. The final webinar in the...

The recent review of the conveyancing sector by the Solicitors Regulation Authority found that 23 percent of conveyancing firms are inadequately advising leasehold homebuyers. In what the SRA describes as a 'dangerous assumption', several firms said that they saw no reason to explain the difference between freehold and leasehold, assuming the client would already know or the estate agent would have already explained it. Ultimately this leads to the question as to whether the solicitors have breached their duty of care. As a result of the SRA's review, six law firms have been referred to the regulator's internal disciplinary processes. No doubt these firms will have their Reports on Title scrutinised. Regarding leasehold advice, the SRA report found: Nearly a quarter of firms did not explain the difference between freehold and leasehold properties, with some relying on the client’s knowledge or information provided by an estate agent. One out of five people who...

The SRA have recently warned that it will be writing to a “large number” (400) of firms in the coming weeks requiring evidence of compliance with the 2017 Money Laundering Regulations. The likelihood is that firms with a focus on conveyancing will be targeted. The regulator confirmed that in the last five years, sixty cases linked to potential improper money movements have been referred to the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal. The stark warning is “Those who do not treat the Regulations seriously should expect similar treatment.” Law firms making proper and full use of COMPLETIONmonitor’s AML Search and associated bespoke risk alerts have little to fear from an audit. Delivering comprehensive reporting and dashboard functionality, COMPLETIONmonitor enables MLROs and authorised officers to quickly assess the overall effectiveness of the AML policies . The filtering functionality provides a firm with tools to identify, red-flag or block suspicious fraudulent and money laundering ac...

Do you shut yourself off in a quiet room at the office for hours a week or come into work early to work on this critical and time consuming document? Is it possible that you are wasting valuable time?  What a sad depressing thought. Surely there has to be a better way to generate a Report on Title. Lexsure have created a calculator to help you add up all the hours and assess how much time the e-ROT might be able to save you. The table below shows how much time firms are spending based on feedback to date: Use the calculator to get an approximation of time that you may be able to save, Lexsure’s e-ROT Brings increased protection, consistency and efficiency to building the most important  - yet tedious and time-consuming - document in a purchase transaction. The e-ROT webinars are taking place later this month and in March. You can book here.

Conveyancers have experienced their first significant dip in workload for a decade, providing further evidence of a marked slowdown in the housing market. Firms are now having to shift gears. For the last few years the primary concern of conveyancing practices was how to cope with the volume of instructions. Particular attention was given to improve efficiencies.   Focus is now shifting towards how to create, win and convert more leads and enquiries.   The two obvious places to look when it comes to increasing leads is  Google via ‘pay per click’ or paying estate agents/brokers for leads. Both options are extremely expensive. Firms will often expend lots of time and money before eventually realising that experimenting in these two areas yields inadequate return on investment.   Ideally, word-of-mouth recommendations and repeat clients would support firms through lean periods. Yet for many, when the market takes a turn for the worst, repeat cl...