Conveyancing Risks for Support Staff - 7 Essential Modules

Introduction

Conveyancing is a high-risk practice area. It has also become a high-pressure area of work which is a toxic mix for property lawyers and the paralegals, trainees and support staff who are the backbone of any team.

Being able to recognise risk before something becomes a problem is a key skill for support staff.

This 7-part webinar series will highlight the key risks and will provide an outline of some of the key stages in the conveyancing transaction.

Each online module is delivered in bite-sized slots of 30 minutes and will cover the key messages and warning signs.

What You Will Learn

This webinar will cover the following:

Module 1 - Taking Instructions & ‘Know Your Client’

Lorraine Richardson

This module will provide a basic introduction to the conveyancing process, taking instructions from a new client and the importance of ‘Know Your Client’ procedures. It will cover:

• Obtaining client instructions
• What are the risks of electronic onboarding?
• What is Anti Money Laundering and why does it matter?
• The importance of money - source of funds and source of wealth

Module 2 - The Key Conveyancing Documents

Lorraine Richardson

This module will focus on the three key documents in the conveyancing transaction: the contract, the mortgage deed and the TR1. It will look at:

• How to prepare a contract for a registered title
• The mortgage deed and how to draft it
• How to draft a TR1 for a registered title
• How should the documents be signed?

Module 3 - Searches & Enquiries on a Property Purchase

Lorraine Richardson

This module will provide an overview of the main pre-contract searches on a residential freehold purchase and will give outline guidance on how to raise enquiries. It will cover:

• An overview of pre-contract searches on a purchase
• Which searches should be carried out on every purchase?
• Raising effective pre-contract enquiries and the risks of relying on software generated enquiries

Module 4 - The Lender’s Requirements

Lorraine Richardson

This module is an introduction to the UK Finance Mortgage Lender’s Handbook. It will explore:

• The importance of the mortgage offer
• The UK Finance Handbook - what is it and what does it contain?
• What are the 2026 changes?
• What are the main challenges when dealing with lenders?

Module 5 - The Exchange Process

Paul Sams

This module will explore the process of exchange and what it entails including the common issues that arise including:

• What does ‘exchange of contracts’ mean and why do clients (and others) think it means something else?
• The relevance of the standard conditions of sale including highlighting some of the key conditions
• Why contracts need to be accurate - and what happens if they are not?
• Why is a bankruptcy search necessary?
• What does a priority search at the Land Registry do in practice?
• What to do if the Land Registry priority search is not clear

Module 6 - Conveyancing Documents between Exchange and Completion

Paul Sams

This module will consider the various documents that need to be readied between exchange and completion including:

• What is a transfer form and how should it be executed (by paper and online)?
• What is the difference between a transfer of whole and a transfer of part?
• Do both parties (seller and buyer) need to sign the transfer form?
• What if a deed is not executed correctly?
• Replies to requisitions - what are they and how they are crucially important to a transaction
• Checking the accuracy of bank details
• Checking on redemption figures and what can happen if you do not check

Module 7 - Completion & Post Completion

Paul Sams

This module will consider the actions involved on the day of completion and the work involved post completion including:

• What should happen on the day of completion and what can go wrong?
• What should happen immediately after completion?
• The basics of a Land Registry application on a purchase transaction
• What should happen when a completed registration has been returned from the Land Registry?

This pre-recorded webinar will be available to view from Monday 14th December 2026

Alternatively, you can gain access to this webinar and 2,400+ others via the MBL Webinar Subscription. Please email webinarsubscription@mblseminars.com for more details.