I cannot recall an occasion when I have gleaned any pleasure from someone else’s misery, but I confess to feeling a certain amount of schadenfreude at the news last week of the demise of another ‘conveyancing farm’. These ‘businesses’ have devalued conveyancing to the lowest possible level, operating tick-box systems, and have denigrated the role of property lawyer to such an extent that I have almost become embarrassed to tell people what I do for a living.

Some may blame panels and intermediaries for driving down the price of our services, or lenders who repeatedly put their remortgage business out for tender, or the widespread practice of the payment of referral fees. In my view, however, we are responsible for our own downfall. Conveyancing factories have operated on a business model whereby they charge essentially no fees but rely on massive volumes and client account interest to pay their way, never thinking the base rate could drop so low. They deserve their fate.

Do we have so little regard for the value of our own skills that we are prepared to give them away? Is our job so easy that it can be done by anyone with minimal training but state-of-the-art software? The professional indemnity insurers certainly don’t think so. My clients don’t think so. I don’t think so, and I hope that the bulk suppliers will wake up to the fact that conveyancing, even in respect of refinancing properties, is not a service that can or should be commoditised. Fellow property lawyers – please stop prostituting yourselves and regain your self respect.

I should be grateful if you could withhold my name and address as my practice does operate with a number of panels and intermediaries.

Name and address supplied