Articles From the Team

Conveyancing jobs: what's the earning potential?

Given my job involves recruiting for and placing into conveyancing jobs, I've been asked this question too many times to mention. Rightly so. As a specialist legal consultant within the conveyancing industry, I've got a good grasp on the market (across the North West in particular), which allows me to provide specific and accurate information when it comes to salary expectations (to both client law firms and candidates).

Interestingly, it's just this week where I and the wider conveyancing team have been looking at updating our national salary surveys; in line with the latest recruitment figures and salaries across our industry

Conveyancing jobs are a little bit different...

Conveyancing jobs are at a bit of an oddity when it comes to salary tables because other legal job roles have clearer banding when it comes to levels of PQE. When it comes to conveyancing, we've seen (in the main) that salaries don't tend to link to formal qualifications and firms are as impressed, in many respects, by practical experience in the job.

Of course, there are times when a formal qualification is a pre-requisite for the role, but for the majority of clients we work with, the salary doesn't differ that significantly whether you've got a formal qualification or not.

The difference lies in location and practical experience. When we pre-qualify a role there's always a focus on the level of ability. We're briefed on roles where the following is often ranked as more important than a qualification:

• Can the person handle a varied caseload? How many files?
• What types of transactions can they handle?
• Have they got the ability to mentor/supervise others?

By location

In terms of location, salaries are broadly the same across the country (excluding London).

By firm type

The type of firm can have an effect as some of the bigger firms' pockets run a little deeper and tend to pay higher at the more junior level.

Salary surveys

We're in the process of producing our national salary survey, which will be published on the BCL website. If you're in any doubt about what you should be earning, keep an eye out!

It's also helpful to speak to one of our specialist advisors. At BCL, each consultant focuses on a specific region, which means we have a greater understanding of the various markets.

It's also important to point out that there are lots of other factors that come into play when you're assessing your salary; it's not just basic pay you need to look at.

Benefits

When we're assessing salaries we ask questions about wider benefits to gain a real picture of the total package. Additional holidays, higher pension contributions, paid bonuses, healthcare incentives, and training and development support - all come into play. My advice is to weigh up the whole package as opposed to the basic figure.

If you're in any doubt about what you should be earning or are feeling underappreciated, get in touch and we'll do our best to give you an honest overview of where to position yourself in terms of salary.