Why practical skills now outweigh credentials in conveyancing. Skills-based hiring in property law is transforming recruitment in conveyancing.
By Sam Bailey, Recruitment Director at Lets Recruit
In today’s competitive legal landscape, especially within property law, traditional hiring practices that prioritised academic credentials and firm names are being challenged. At Lets Recruit, we’re seeing a clear and growing trend toward skills-based hiring in property law particularly in conveyancing, where real-world ability, process accuracy, and client-handling skills are paramount.
Why the Shift Toward Skills-Based Hiring?
The move toward practical skills over legal qualifications is no coincidence. Conveyancing, by nature, is a process-driven, high-volume area of law. Employers are realising that a candidate’s ability to manage transactions with speed, accuracy, and communication finesse can often outweigh the prestige of their education or whether they followed a traditional solicitor route.
This evolution in hiring reflects a broader industry recognition: competency-based legal recruitment delivers better performance and retention, especially in roles where conveyancing expertise is measured more by outcomes than credentials.
The Core Skills That Matter in Conveyancing Roles
So, what does skills-based hiring in conveyancing actually look for? Here are the key competencies employers now prioritise:
• Process Mastery: The ability to follow and manage the conveyancing process from initial instruction to post-completion with minimal supervision.
• Attention to Detail: Spotting inconsistencies in contracts, local searches, or title documents can make or break a transaction.
• Client Communication Skills: Explaining complex legal terms in plain English to clients often under pressure is a critical asset.
• Time Management: With multiple transactions on the go, the ability to hit deadlines and manage expectations is vital.
• Tech Fluency: With digital solutions reshaping this historically antiquated role, confidence with technology is more important than ever.
Credentials still matter, but they’re not everything!
This isn’t to say that qualifications no longer play a role. Legal employers particularly in conveyancing recruitment are more open than ever to those who may have taken alternative routes into law, such as:
• Licensed conveyancers
• Paralegals with strong conveyancing experience
• Career-changers with property sector knowledge and legal training
For law firms hiring conveyancers, this shift opens a wider talent pool. You can now tap into individuals who bring direct, proven conveyancing experience even if they don’t have a traditional solicitor background.
For candidates, this change is empowering. If you’ve built your conveyancing skills on the job, your career progression is no longer limited by academic routes. Instead, your ability to perform is finally being recognised and rewarded.
How Lets Recruit Supports Skills-Based Hiring
At Let’s Recruit, we’ve adapted our recruitment strategy to reflect this modern approach. We don’t just match CVs with job specs, we assess technical competencies through targeted screening, real-world scenario testing, and values alignment. Our aim? To ensure the best-fit conveyancing professionals are placed where they can deliver immediate impact.
Final Thoughts
The future of legal hiring in property law is skills-first. In a field like conveyancing, where efficiency, accuracy, and client trust matter most, practical experience and soft skills are rising to the forefront. Whether you're an employer looking to strengthen your team or a professional looking to break through, embracing skills-based recruitment in property law is the way forward. Learn more about The Lets Recruit Process
Want to know how skills-based hiring can work for your firm? Get in touch with the Lets Recruit team today.
