The profession of licensed conveyancers has truly come of age.

In the same week as Lord Falconer decided not to open up the conveyancing market further (see [2003] Gazette, 31 July, 3), Enact, the volume conveyancing provider, has been spun off by Addleshaw Goddard as an independent company (see [2003] Gazette, 31 July, 6), which will be regulated by the Council for Licensed Conveyancers.

An increasing number of solicitors' firms have converted to become practices regulated by the council in recent years, and the profession now contains the largest provider of transactional residential conveyancing (Countrywide Property Lawyers), and the largest remortgage provider (Enact).

Licensed conveyancers offer true competition for solicitors, and although the playing field is not altogether level, it has to be welcomed that a further type of player is not going to be given the opportunity to join the game, for the time being.

Roger Wilson, technical director, Countrywide Property Lawyers