Head of Conveyancing

Simpson Judge; South Shields; Hybrid; GBP 54,000 - 66,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid working considered

Senior leadership role

Career development opportunities

Job summary

Simpson Judge is seeking an experienced Head of Conveyancing to lead the residential conveyancing department. The role combines senior leadership with hands-on management of a busy caseload and responsibility for profitability and client care.

You will oversee workloads, guide complex matters and ensure compliance, while developing the team and identifying opportunities for process improvements and business growth. Hybrid working may be considered for the right candidate.

Qualifications

• Senior leadership experience in a conveyancing department.
• Strong technical knowledge of residential property matters.
• Experience supervising a team and managing workloads.

Responsibilities

• Lead, motivate and support the residential conveyancing team.
• Oversee day-to-day management, performance and profitability of the department.
• Provide technical guidance on complex matters and ensure regulatory compliance.
• Develop staff, recruit and mentor team members.
• Drive process improvements and efficiency across the department.

Skills

Leadership

Residential Conveyancing

People Management

Client Care

Commercial Awareness

Regulatory Knowledge

IT/Case Management Systems

Education

Qualified solicitor or licensed conveyancer

Experience at senior level

Tools

Case management software

Job description

We are working with a well-established law firm that is looking to appoint an experienced Head of Conveyancing to lead and develop its residential conveyancing department.

This is a senior opportunity for an experienced conveyancer who is confident managing people, overseeing a busy residential caseload and taking responsibility for the operational, technical and commercial performance of a department.

The successful candidate will play a key role in leading the team, maintaining high standards of client care and compliance, developing staff and identifying opportunities to improve the department's efficiency, profitability and overall performance.

The Role

As Head of Conveyancing, you will have overall responsibility for the day-to-day management and performance of the residential conveyancing department.

Your responsibilities will include:

• Leading, motivating and supporting the residential conveyancing team.
• Managing workloads, allocating files and ensuring matters are progressed efficiently.
• Providing technical guidance and support on complex residential conveyancing matters.
• Maintaining an active residential conveyancing caseload alongside your management responsibilities.
• Acting as the main point of escalation for complex, sensitive or difficult client and file matters.
• Ensuring appropriate supervision is in place across the department.
• Monitoring compliance, risk management and quality standards.
• Carrying out and/or arranging regular file audits and quality checks.
• Ensuring files are handled in accordance with relevant regulatory and professional requirements.
• Monitoring departmental performance, income, WIP, billing and recoverability.
• Working with senior management to identify opportunities to improve processes, profitability and efficiency.
• Supporting recruitment, training, mentoring and development of the conveyancing team.
• Managing performance and setting clear expectations around quality, productivity and client service.
• Developing relationships with estate agents, mortgage brokers, financial advisers and other professional contacts.
• Contributing to business development, networking and marketing activity.
• Identifying opportunities for new business and developing existing professional relationships.
• Driving improvements in systems, processes and the use of technology within the department.

You will have strong experience across residential conveyancing, with the department handling matters including:

• Freehold sales and purchases
• Leasehold sales and purchases
• Remortgages
• Transfers of equity
• New-build transactions
• Shared ownership
• Right to Buy
• Shared equity matters
• Unregistered and complex titles
• Lease extensions
• Other residential property transactions

About You

We are looking for an experienced residential conveyancer who is ready to take the next step into, or continue developing within, a senior departmental leadership position.

You will ideally have:

• Significant experience in residential conveyancing.
• Previous experience supervising, managing or leading a conveyancing team.
• Strong technical knowledge, including experience with complex residential property matters.
• A strong understanding of conveyancing procedures, risk management and regulatory requirements.
• Excellent client care and communication skills.
• The ability to manage a busy caseload while overseeing a wider team.
• Strong organisational and time-management skills.
• Commercial awareness and an understanding of departmental performance and profitability.
• Experience delegating work and developing junior members of staff.
• Confidence dealing with complex client matters and providing technical support to colleagues.
• Excellent attention to detail and a proactive approach to problem solving.
• The ability to work effectively under pressure and make sound decisions.
• Strong IT and case management system skills.

Applicants may be qualified solicitors, licensed conveyancers or experienced conveyancing professionals with the appropriate level of technical and managerial experience.

What's on Offer?

• Salary of up to £60,000, depending on experience.


• A senior position with genuine responsibility for the development of the conveyancing department.


• The opportunity to lead and develop an established team.


• A varied role combining technical conveyancing, leadership, client care and commercial management.


• Long-term career development within an established legal practice.


• Predominantly office-based working, although some flexibility around hybrid working may be considered for the right candidate.

If you are an experienced residential conveyancer with previous team management or departmental leadership experience and are looking for your next senior opportunity, we would be keen to hear from you.