Solicitor quitting frontline conveyancing laments 'thankless job'

A solicitor who announced he was quitting frontline conveyancing - describing it as a ‘thankless job’ - has revealed that he will be discussing the challenges of the job with the Law Society vice-president after his LinkedIn post caught the attention of Chancery Lane.

Pardeep Kandola announced last week that he was saying goodbye to frontline conveyancing, and to his incredible firm and friends. ‘I’m a self-professed people pleaser, and in conveyancing, that’s an extremely difficult feat at the moment,’ Kandola said.

‘My view is that conveyancing can be a thankless job, with very little respect shown to the profession, not limited to me, but as a whole. It’s more so now, where such incredibly talented lawyers are exiting the profession, and less are joining to replenish.’

Kandola praised conveyancers and support staff who continue to show up every day despite the struggles, calling them 'heroes'.

A few days later, Kandola revealed that his post caught the attention of Society vice-president Mark Evans, himself a high street conveyancer for three decades, and the pair would be meeting to discuss the challenges of the job. Kandola's request for issues to bring up during the chat attracted several replies.

A conveyancing executive called out ‘job creep’ within the sector: ‘We are expected to be "experts" regarding issues that we never as lawyers anticipated – climate change, valuations and money laundering experts to mention but a few.'

A solicitor said interference and negative criticism of the homebuying process was ‘incessant, misguided and misconceived’ and called for the need to ‘restore respect for the process and for the property lawyers that underpin transactions’. There was too much focus on consumer interest and ‘too little respect and understanding of the protections afforded to homebuyers and lenders by our regulated professionals’.

On anti-money laundering checks, an associate solicitor said conveyancers are not forensic accountants and believed the duty should fall on lenders and banks.

Kandola told the Gazette he will still be working in conveyancing, supervising other lawyers, providing technical support and assisting with his next firm's business growth.