Dual Qualify as a Licensed Conveyancer & Probate Practitioner

In today's dynamic legal landscape, specialisation is key, but the ability to offer a broader range of services makes you an invaluable asset. If you're already a Licensed Conveyancer or are on the path to becoming one through a CLC Conveyancing Course, did you know you're remarkably close to also becoming a Licensed Probate Practitioner?

At Access Law, we empower legal professionals like you to maximise their career potential by dual qualifying. This strategic move allows you to seamlessly expand your service offering, meet diverse client needs, and significantly boost your employability and earning power – all within the efficient and specialised CLC framework.

The Natural Synergy: Conveyancing and Probate Law

It's no coincidence that the Council for Licensed Conveyancers (CLC) regulates both Licensed Conveyancers and Licensed Probate Practitioners. There's a strong, natural synergy between these two areas of law:

• Life Events Connect Them: Property transactions often occur alongside significant life events, including bereavement. A client selling a deceased relative's home will need both conveyancing and probate services.
• One-Stop Shop for Clients: Being able to assist clients with both the legal transfer of property (conveyancing) and the administration of a deceased person's estate (probate) offers immense convenience. This fosters trust and client loyalty, as they don't need to engage multiple legal providers during what can be an incredibly stressful and emotional time.
• Boosted Employability: Firms value professionals who can handle a wider array of cases. A dual-qualified lawyer is incredibly attractive, potentially leading to higher salaries and more diverse roles.

How to Dual Qualify as a Licensed Probate Practitioner (from Licensed Conveyancer)

The CLC pathway is designed for logical progression, offering a highly efficient route to dual qualification once you're a Licensed Conveyancer. At Access Law, we guide you through this streamlined process.

If you are already a Licensed Conveyancer (having completed your CLC Conveyancing Diploma at Level 4 and Level 6, and gained your 1200 hours of practical experience), your journey to becoming a Licensed Probate Practitioner is surprisingly straightforward:

Academic Requirements:

• Exemptions: Crucially, if you hold the CLC Conveyancing Diploma (Level 6), you are likely exempt from all of the Level 4 Diploma in Probate Law and Practice units. You'll also be exempt from the Level 6 Accounts unit (as you've already covered this in your conveyancing studies).
• Focused Study: This means you primarily need to complete just two specific Level 6 units related to Wills, Succession, Grants of Representation, and the Administration of Estates. These units build directly on your existing legal knowledge. Access Law offers these probate courses with flexible online study options to fit around your existing commitments.

Practical Experience:

• You will need to accumulate 1200 hours of qualifying practical experience specifically in probate work. This experience must be supervised by an Authorised Person (e.g., a Licensed Probate Practitioner, or Solicitor).
• This experience can often be gained while you are completing your additional academic units or by expanding your role within your current firm. Many firms already handle both conveyancing and probate, making this feasible.

Apply for Licence:

• Once you've completed the required Level 6 probate units and logged your 1200 hours of probate practical experience, you can apply to the CLC for your Licensed Probate Practitioner licence.

Juggling Work, Family, and Study: We Get It.

We understand the demands of a busy conveyancing career and family life. The thought of adding study can feel overwhelming, raising questions like, 'Where will the time come from?' or 'Can I truly afford another qualification?

• No Fixed Assessment Windows: Forget rigid exam schedules. Our programme has no fixed assessment windows, allowing you to complete assessments when you're ready, not when a timetable dictates.
• Online Exams, Your Way: Sit your exams from the comfort of your own home, on a Saturday, or any day that works for you. You're in control of your assessment dates.
• Only Two Assessments for Level 6 Diploma: This focused approach not only minimises your academic load but also significantly contributes to the cost-effectiveness of this qualification compared to traditional legal routes.
• Building on Familiar Ground: Re-entering academic study can feel daunting, but remember, the Level 6 Probate units directly build upon the legal foundation you've already established as a Licensed Conveyancer. This isn't about starting from scratch; it's about expanding existing expertise.
• Modular Content for Bite-Sized Learning: Our courses are broken down into short, manageable modules. This means you can study in small bursts whenever you find a spare moment:

• Got 10 minutes while making a coffee? Complete an interactive resource like a drag & drop exercise, flashcard set, match-up game, or "solve the wall" activity.
• Listen to a lecture on your commute – our audio content is typically never more than 20 minutes long.

• Smart Study Strategies for Time-Poor Professionals:

• Micro-learning: Break down study sessions into 15-30 minute chunks. Consistency over intensity.
• Utilise Dead Time: Make the most of commutes, lunch breaks, or even waiting in line.
• Prioritise Key Topics: Focus on the most crucial areas, especially given your exemptions.
• Create a Routine (Flexible): Even a flexible routine helps. Dedicate specific (even if short) slots in your week.
• Communicate with Family/Work: Let those around you know your study goals to gain their support.

With Access Law, you can truly integrate your study into your life, making dual qualification achievable without sacrificing your current commitments.

Why Dual Qualify: Career Growth & Market Advantage

Choosing to dual qualify as a Licensed Conveyancer and Probate Practitioner isn't just about adding another string to your bow; it's a strategic move to future-proof your career and significantly expand your professional horizons.

• Unrivalled Efficiency: Leverage your existing CLC Conveyancing Diploma and practical experience to fast-track your probate qualification. Avoid repeating foundational legal subjects and save years of additional study and significant expenses typically associated with a full second legal qualification. 
  
  This translates to direct savings in both time and financial investment, making this an incredibly accessible path to further your career without years of additional, costly study.
• Enhanced Marketability: Become a "one-stop-shop" lawyer, capable of handling both property sales and estate administration. This makes you exceptionally valuable to firms and clients alike, positioning you as an indispensable asset. You'll be a highly attractive candidate for senior fee-earner positions, team leadership, and even partnership.
• Increased Earning Potential: A broader skillset directly translates into greater earning opportunities and career progression. Your ability to handle interconnected legal processes increases your value to a firm and your billable capacity, enabling you to command a higher salary.
• Seamless Expertise Across Related Fields: Some worry about diluting their core conveyancing skills. In fact, understanding probate law deeply enhances your conveyancing practice, particularly when dealing with estate properties, transfers of equity following death, or sensitive family matters. Your dual expertise becomes a powerful, integrated offering.
• Career Resilience: Diversify your expertise, giving you more options and stability in varying market conditions. With the increasing complexity of estates (e.g., blended families, digital assets), specialised probate expertise is in high demand.
• Client Retention & Business Development: Offer seamless, integrated service to clients, retaining them for multiple legal needs through significant life events. This continuity builds profound trust and fosters powerful referral loops, leading to organic business growth and a more robust client portfolio. 
  
  Moreover, understanding both disciplines ensures you maintain a high level of competence across your practice areas. Rather than spreading yourself thin, you become a specialist in interconnected legal services, reinforcing your expertise in both.
• Growing Market Demand: The UK's wills, trusts, and probate market continues to show significant growth, creating a clear and expanding opportunity for qualified professionals.

Take the Next Step with Access Law

Already a Licensed Conveyancer? Or perhaps you're mid-way through your CLC Conveyancing Course and planning your future? The opportunity to dual qualify as a Licensed Probate Practitioner presents a powerful pathway to a more comprehensive and rewarding legal career.

At Access Law, we provide the specialised, CLC-approved probate courses and expert guidance to help you efficiently achieve this valuable dual qualification. Contact us today to discuss how we can help you double your expertise and unlock new career horizons!