20/03/2023

Today’s National Conveyancing Week theme is ‘recruitment and retention’, so we thought it was a good opportunity to meet Partner Emma Millington and find out how she came to be a conveyancing and property solicitor and what tips she has for other aspiring conveyancers.

How long have you been a property and conveyancing solicitor?

I qualified in 2006, my first degree is business and French and I converted to law by way of a post-graduate before qualifying as a solicitor.

What initially attracted you to this area of law?

Conveyancing is a very transactional area of law. It’s non-contentious, which is what attracted me as I felt that suited my skills and personality.

What’s the best part of your job?

Achieving completion for clients because when people have found their dream home they’re so eager to move in. It’s a privilege to help clients achieve that dream move.

Has the job changed much over the last 15 or so years?

Law is highly regulated for obvious reasons, but conveyancing is even more so and the burden of compliance is ever growing so, from an administrative perspective, this is how the job has changed most. We have also introduced more case management and innovative IT to assist in streamlining and making the conveyancing process more efficient. IT is a great support to us and, while it doesn’t replace the personal touch we pride ourselves on at Beswicks, it certainly helps to support clients and enhance their overall experience.

In your experience which parts of the home buying and selling process cause clients the most stress and what would your advice be to help things go as smoothly as possible?

Its nerve wracking waiting for mortgage approvals and for search results because there is very little you can do to speed up this process, which can be frustrating. But making sure your documentation is in order and responding to queries quickly will all help speed up the process.

What advice would you give to someone starting their career as a property and conveyancing solicitor?

It’s important to grasp the basics first so you build good solid foundations on which to grow because this is an ever-changing area of law. You can then build a good in-depth knowledge of the law and coupling that with great customer service is definitely the key to success.

What piece of advice has stuck with you throughout your career?

Don’t assume anything! Conveyancing might be a transactional area of law, but it’s anything but routine. Every purchase and sale is completely unique, so it’s important to tackle each matter with an enquiring mind and a thorough approach.