Christopher White comments that the solicitor who was recently convicted of a money-laundering offence received a heavy sentence for what may have been no more than gross negligence (see [2006] Gazette, 30 November, 16). This may be so, but the entire profession must take this as a warning to be on guard.


Mr White goes on to state that perhaps the solicitor should have qualified as a licensed conveyancer instead. This is a bizarre comment, implying that the law applies differently to some professions than to others. The regulations are exactly the same for solicitors and licensed conveyancers, and the punishment would no doubt be the same in both cases.



I also fail to see the connection between licensed conveyancers and paralegals working for warehouse firms.



All licensed conveyancers are subject to regular file inspections, which now check that no money-laundering offences have been committed.



John Clay, chairman of the Society of Licensed Conveyancers, London