Sarah Bourke
Brewer, Harding & Rowe are extremely proud to present a series of articles written by 8 of our current staff which show the different routes into qualification as a fee earner within our firm.
Some of the articles explain that law was their first choice of career. For others, it was not the obvious choice, but one that was achieved regardless.
We are able to support those with a keen attitude to learn and progress within their careers at the firm. You shall read that of the 8 staff, 3 are now qualified solicitors, 1 a licensed conveyancer, 1 a CILEx and 2 are trainee solicitors, all of which we have trained and supported within the firm. All of these 8 individuals remain supported by us as their careers progress and successful careers are forecast.
I am a Licensed Conveyancer based in our Braunton office. I began my legal career 20 years ago in the West Midlands, as an assistant in various city firms and areas of law. I ultimately focused on residential conveyancing, as I realised conveyancing wasn’t just about property – it was about guiding people through one of the biggest moments of their lives and I wanted to be part of that journey.
Licensed Conveyancers are professional specialists in Property Law and are regulated by the Council of Licensed Conveyancers (CLC). We specialise in the legal aspects of buying and selling property in England and Wales and we are also Commissioners for Oaths, which means we have legal authority to administer and witness official documents.
To qualify, we must first complete the level 4 exams, following which you could qualify as a Conveyancing Technician. To progress as a Licensed Conveyancer, you will need to complete level 6 exams, undertake 1200 hours of practical experience in a conveyancing role and there must also be a continued effort to develop professional skills. The Diplomas can be studied in a classroom or by distance learning, I chose to complete my studies online (distance learning) as this enabled me to continue working full time.