header-logo header-logo

Making tech at home in conveyancing

169179
Residential property law isn’t exactly leading tech innovation. Why not, & how can it change? Peter Ambrose investigates
  • Why residential property lawyers should embrace AI and use it to their advantage.

When it comes to driving technology innovation, residential conveyancing tends to take a bit of a back seat—which is ironic, given that risk management is among the biggest benefit offered by technology, and conveyancing is the discipline that carries the most risk today.

As buying or selling a property is the most common reason for someone to instruct a lawyer, this makes competition fierce and margins slim. Law firm owners will acknowledge that residential property work is often at the back of the queue for investment, despite its ability to generate cash for the business quickly.

Unfortunately, investment in new technology for conveyancers remains sluggish. Moreover, the stamp duty land tax holiday experience still casts a long shadow, making retention and recruitment of experienced staff challenging.

A highly fragmented market

Bringing technology change to a low margin activity is tricky. First, the highly fragmented

If you are not a subscriber, subscribe now to read this content
If you are already a subscriber sign in
...or Register for two weeks' free access to subscriber content

MOVERS & SHAKERS

Jurit LLP—Caroline Williams

Jurit LLP—Caroline Williams

Private wealth and tax team welcomes cross-border specialist as consultant

Freeths—Michelle Kirkland Elias

Freeths—Michelle Kirkland Elias

International hospitality and leisure specialist joins corporate team as partner

Flint Bishop—Deborah Niven

Flint Bishop—Deborah Niven

Firm appoints head of intellectual property to drive northern growth

NEWS
Talk of a reserved ‘Welsh seat’ on the Supreme Court is misplaced. In NLJ this week, Professor Graham Zellick KC explains that the Constitutional Reform Act treats ‘England and Wales’ as one jurisdiction, with no statutory Welsh slot
The government’s plan to curb jury trials has sparked ‘jury furore’. Writing in NLJ this week, David Locke, partner at Hill Dickinson, says the rationale is ‘grossly inadequate’
A year after the $1.5bn Bybit heist, crypto fraud is booming—but so is recovery. Writing in NLJ this week, Neil Holloway, founder and CEO of M2 Recovery, warns that scams hit at least $14bn in 2025, fuelled by ‘pig butchering’ cons and AI deepfakes
After Woodcock confirmed no general duty to warn, debate turns to the criminal law. Writing in NLJ this week, Charles Davey of The Barrister Group urges revival of misprision or a modern equivalent
Family courts are tightening control of expert evidence. Writing in NLJ this week, Dr Chris Pamplin says there is ‘no automatic right’ to call experts; attendance must be ‘necessary in the interests of justice’ under FPR Pt 25
back-to-top-scroll