Can I Become a Conveyancer?

AG_ACT on 22/02/2017 - 21:08

Sorry for the boring background; but I think it's necessary for my question.

Since I finished school I was a little bit confused with what I wanted to do with my life… I don't know why, but I decided to do a Bachelor of Commerce and Bachelor of Laws joint degree, and completed this in 2006. I started working in the public service in 2007 and have been in basically the same position since. I am pretty bad at writing job applications, and on top of that, even after 10 years of working, I'm really not sure what I want to do. I completed a CPA a while back, and also did a foundation certificate in software testing. I was hoping that one of these things might give me direction, but it hasn't really.

Basically, I'm very lazy when it comes to applying for jobs, and pretty confused with what I want to do professionally. I'm 32 and should probably have this figured out by now… but I don't. Today, I was searching for a conveyancer for a small unit I am going to purchase. While going through this, I thought to myself, I could probably become a conveyancer myself… I'm ok with law/numbers/ and it shouldn't be too much of a hit to the back pocket hopefully… I hope there will be very little investment in anything but myself…

So, my questions are…
1. Do you think conveyancing is something I could do part time
2. Any idea what additional qualifications I might need/where I might go to find out (for Canberra - other states seem to be fairly obvious)
3. My current salary is about 75,000 a year; do you think this is something that could be financially beneficial for me
4. I have three months long service leave, would this be sufficient time to find out if I enjoy the work, or would I still be in the "honeymoon period"

Thank you for reading my incredibly long post.

Education & Work

Comments

  • captobvious on 22/02/2017 - 21:20

    Some law firms also do conveyancy and lawyers can do conveyancy. I dont know why you would want to choose conveyancy over practicing law though

    • AG_ACT on 22/02/2017 - 22:52
      +2

      Practicing law is a lot more glamorous in TV shows/movies than it is in the real world….

      • airal3rt on 22/02/2017 - 23:56
        +2

        Suits is the best so as far as I'm concerned that is a 100% accurate depiction of daily life at a law firm.

        • AG_ACT on 23/02/2017 - 06:32
          +1

          I wish! Boston Legal was pretty much the reason I wanted to do law in the first place!

          Have to agree suits is pretty darn good.

        • [Deactivated] on 23/02/2017 - 13:10

          @AG_ACT:

          Denny Crane

        • AG_ACT on 23/02/2017 - 20:15

          @terminal2k:

          Mad cow

  • djkelly69 on 22/02/2017 - 21:20

    Unfortunately there is no such thing as a licenced conveyancer in the ACT. All conveyancing has to be done under the name/eye of someone with a practising certificate. You could of course be employed by someone to do conveyancing work in their firm, but it sounds like you are talking about starting your own business?

    Did you finish your law degree? If so, you could just GDLP and then get admitted? I believe you would still need to be employed for at least two years before you could start your own practice however.

    Or do the NSW licenced conveyancer's course and do Queanbeyan or South Coast work. But same sort of restrictions I think, need a year or two of being employed before you can go out on your own.

    Not sure it is really something that can be done part-time - there is a lot of time-critical deadlines to meet, which usually can't wait half a week or whatever until you are working again.

    • AG_ACT on 22/02/2017 - 22:50

      Yep, finished with honours… guess I'll look more into the GDLP and see what firms might be willing to provide me some experience/training.

      I guess I was thinking that there probably aren't too many deadlines you wouldn't know about in advance, so I might be able to manage part time for a few months, but you are probably right…

      Thanks for your comment

      • djkelly69 on 22/02/2017 - 23:12

        You know the deadlines in advance, the problem is you are reliant on 3rd parties (usually banks or government departments) to have done their bit so that you can progress to the next stage, and they don't really care too much about your deadlines.

        For part-time, it would really depend on how many files you have. Obviously a few files is a lot easier to manage than a lot. If you are going to do it, I would suggest aiming to do a few hours work every day, rather than not doing anything for a couple of days and doing a lot of hours on the others.

        I am sure there are part-time/job-share positions out there if you look hard enough.

        Also agree re. the impressive qualifications. What about tax or something similar which combines the accounting and law?

        • AG_ACT on 22/02/2017 - 23:17

          Sorry I should have clarified; I meant trying it out part time to see if I enjoy it… not as a permanent solution…. Once I'd had experience with a reasonable number, I'm sure I'd know if I wanted to do it part time.

          Thanks… Tax actually seems to be the most interesting thing to me so far… just not sure I could find an accounting firm that would be prepared to give me experience.

        • djkelly69 on 22/02/2017 - 23:24

          @AG_ACT: Sounds like you should just be applying for grad jobs, be it in law or accounting or both. That is the main way you get experience. Will probably be a pay cut to start with, but obviously potential for much more than you are currently on. And hopefully more fulfilling!

          Good luck with it all.

        • AG_ACT on 23/02/2017 - 06:34

          @djkelly69:

          The pay cut is the reason why I haven't taken up this option…. I have a wife, 2 kids and 2 investment properties that don't really allow me to take that sort of approach.

          Thank you very much for your wishes.

  • Brainwhacker on 22/02/2017 - 22:42

    Impressive qualifications; I must say; I have no idea about conveyancing but I do know that its not the cost of conveyancing was significantly reduced when individuals obtained qualifications to do it; always expensive with law firms, all the best with your search

    • AG_ACT on 22/02/2017 - 22:52

      Thank you very much. Appreciate your comment.

  • [Deactivated] on 23/02/2017 - 07:27

    Do you think conveyancing is something I could do part time

    Straight forward cases, yes
    Complicated cases, no - they'd probably interfere with your day job.

    Unfortunately, it's impossible to cherry pick the straight forward cases. Everyone wants them, since it's easier money.

    1. My current salary is about 75,000 a year; do you think this is something that could be financially beneficial for me

    Surely you're capable of multiplying out how many cases you'd need to take on to make it 'worthwhile'? 1 case/month @ $1k/case = $12k/year = 15% pay rise.

    • AG_ACT on 23/02/2017 - 19:58

      LOL, thanks. It's not about how many cases I'd "need" to take on, rather how many cases I could expect to get.

      • [Deactivated] on 23/02/2017 - 20:07

        Google "Porter's five forces" it'll give you a high level framework to understand the industry you're trying to break into and how you're going to position yourself in that industry.

        I would've thought they cover in this is economics 101 … or maybe not.

        • AG_ACT on 23/02/2017 - 20:12

          Porter's five forces are definitely covered of in economics 101.

          Thanks for your input.

  • 2jzzzz on 23/02/2017 - 08:33

    This is why I will never use a conveyancer for any purchases again. Alot of people see it as part time/easy cash on the side kind of work. When troubles arise, they either don't speak up when they are out of their depth or know what they are doing.

    Cost me $10k in my last purchase and I wasn't even aware there was a problem until settlement day and we couldn't settle….

    • AG_ACT on 23/02/2017 - 20:05

      Hi 2jzzz, would you mind elaborating a bit on what "troubles arose"… surely the solicitor's professional indemnity insurance should have covered a mistake…

      I don't really see it as a part time job overall; I'm just thinking that by the time I do practical legal training etc, it will be approx. 2 years where I would have had little to no income. If I could do something part time to see if it was at least something I wanted to do, then it might work out okay.

      I think this might be a little complicated than I was initially imagining though. It's been 10 years since I graduated, and now days any qualifications are considered "stale" and I would have to go through yet another process…

      • djkelly69 on 23/02/2017 - 21:22

        Would hazard a guess his bank wasn't ready to settle on time (and for quite a while afterwards), and he got charged interest and other costs? If so, not really the conveyancer's fault but certainly should have notified the client earlier than the day of settlement!

  • ASTROBOY18 on 23/02/2017 - 10:57

    2jzzz what was the problem if you dont mind me asking?

  • Unbranded on 23/02/2017 - 11:37

    A friend of mine bought a Jim's Property Conveyancing franchise, he is a retired teacher. Apparently Jim's train you in everything you need to know to get started. I've no idea of the franchise costs though.

    • aragornelessar on 23/02/2017 - 11:57

      I knew Jim washed dogs and mowed lawns but didn't realise he was into conveyancing as well!

      • angelkulit025 on 23/02/2017 - 12:01

        He does everything this days, he even do your books (Accounting).

    • AG_ACT on 23/02/2017 - 20:06

      That would be outside the ACT I think. You need to be a fully qualified lawyer to do conveyancing in the ACT.

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