The conveyancing sector is facing a growing talent challenge.
Demand for residential property transactions is recovering; regulatory requirements continue to expand and client expectations around speed and service are higher than ever.
Yet, many firms are struggling to recruit and retain skilled conveyancing professionals, putting pressure on teams, increasing costs and in some cases, limiting growth capacity.
For employers, this is no longer a short-term recruitment issue. It’s a structural skills gap that requires a long-term solution. Increasingly, that solution is apprenticeships.
A workforce under pressure
Between September 2021 and January 2025, the number of conveyancers in England and Wales fell by 15%, from just over 13,000 to approximately 11,140 practitioners. This decline has occurred despite continued demand for conveyancing services.
At the same time, recruitment demand has risen. Vacancies for property solicitors increased by 111% year-on-year, making conveyancing roles some of the hardest legal positions to fill in the UK. Competition for experienced professionals is intense, driving up salaries and increasing staff turnover across the sector.
Why traditional recruitment routes are falling short
Historically, conveyancing firms have relied heavily on lateral hiring, recruiting experienced professionals from other practices. But as the overall pool of conveyancers shrinks, this approach is becoming increasingly unsustainable.
Many experienced conveyancers are leaving the profession due to workload pressures, and burnout. Others are approaching retirement, with fewer early career professionals coming through to replace them.*
Meanwhile, traditional academic routes into law can be expensive, time intensive and inaccessible for many potential candidates. University fees and training costs create barriers that limit the size and diversity of the talent pipeline, at a time when firms need it to widen.
For employers, the result is rising recruitment costs, longer vacancies and growing pressure on existing teams.
Apprenticeships: a long-term strategy
Apprenticeships offer a different approach. One that focuses on building talent from within, rather than competing for an increasingly limited external supply.
Across England, there were 736,500 people participating in apprenticeships in 2023/24, with 339,600 new apprenticeship starts during the year.
Employers across sectors are increasingly using apprenticeships to address skills gaps, improve retention and develop their current teams.**
In the legal sector, apprenticeships bring several clear benefits:
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Skilled people who know your firm’s way of working, culture and clients
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Higher levels of productivity, as apprentices can put what they learn into practice straight away on real work
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Staff are more likely to stay with your firm if you train them yourself
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Better use of the Apprenticeship Levy, as many employers only use about 42% of the funds available to them (on average, employers spend only around 42% of their available levy).***
For non-levy paying employers, government funding covers up to 95% of training costs, making apprenticeships a highly cost-effective option for workforce development.
Supporting compliance and quality
Conveyancing is one of the most highly regulated areas of legal practice. Firms must ensure staff are competent in areas such as AML, lender requirements, professional conduct rules and increasingly complex legislation.
Apprenticeships are built around national occupational standards, ensuring learners develop the knowledge, skills and behaviours required for safe, compliant practice. This structured approach helps firms reduce risk, maintain service quality and meet regulatory expectations which are particularly important in high volume conveyancing environments.
How apprenticeships can help
By embracing apprenticeships, firms can proactively address talent shortages and build sustainable teams.
This approach not only nurtures new professionals but also fosters loyalty and a sense of belonging among staff.
As regulatory demands evolve and client expectations grow, investing in structured training ensures firms remain competitive and resilient in a changing legal landscape.
The Conveyancing Apprenticeship Pathway: Level 4 and Level 6
For employers looking to develop conveyancing professionals, the Level 4 and Level 6 apprenticeships provide a clear progression route.
Level 4 Conveyancing Technician Apprenticeship
The Level 4 Conveyancing Technician apprenticeship provides a strong foundation in conveyancing law and practice.
Level 6 Licensed Conveyancer Apprenticeship
The Level 6 Licensed Conveyancer apprenticeship builds on Level 4, leading to qualification as a Licensed Conveyancer regulated by the Council for Licensed Conveyancers (CLC).
At this level, apprentices develop advanced technical and professional skills, enabling them to manage transactions independently, supervise others and provide regulated legal services. On completion, apprentices can apply for a Licence to Practise, allowing firms to grow their regulated workforce from within.****
Together, Levels 4 and 6 create a clear career progression route from entry-level roles to fully qualified conveyancers without the cost, risk or uncertainty of traditional qualification routes.
Investing in the Future of Conveyancing
The conveyancing skills gap is unlikely to close through recruitment alone. Firms that rely solely on lateral hiring risk rising costs, ongoing shortages and increased pressure on existing teams.
Apprenticeships provide a long-term, sustainable solution helping employers build skilled and productive conveyancing teams while making full use of available funding.
Find out more
To learn how Total People supports employers with Level 4 and Level 6 Conveyancing Apprenticeships, including funding guidance, recruitment support and end-to-end delivery, visit our conveyancing sector page and find out more.
https://www.totalpeople.co.uk/sectors/property-apprenticeships/
Sources:
*15% fall in conveyancer numbers since pandemic | Today's Conveyancer
** https://commonslibrary.parliament.uk/research-briefings/cbp-10365/
***https://ise.org.uk/knowledge/insights/421/how_are_employers_using_apprenticeships_in_2025
****https://www.clc-uk.org/diplomas/
