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On my travels I will continue to do my bit to encourage conveyancers to respond to the government's consultation on improving the conveyancing process. If the profession doesn't speak up, we cannot complain afterwards that the government didn't hear our concerns and/or that the resulting legislation was made with little input from us.

The cut-off date for responses is 17th December 2017 - which gives us just over 6 weeks to have our say.

Furthermore, this is the first time in living memory that I have seen a government appear so keen to improve the conveyancing process. So, this might be a once in a lifetime opportunity for the profession to shape its own future.

I take Rob's point that not all of the ideas on Tim's list will be adopted. For instance, I cannot see the government intervening on the Protocol, TA6 or personal searches.

That said, Tim's impressive list shows that the conveyancing process is in need of numerous improvements - and that is not even taking into account my own hobby horse of long residential leases.

We also need wide profession involvement in this consultation because providing such lists by themselves is unlikely to sway the government, unless it is accompanied by evidence and explanation of the shortcomings in the conveyancing process which are in need of reform.