Can I Work as a Conveyancer in the UK With a Foreign Law Degree?

Yes, you can work as a conveyancer in England and Wales with a foreign law degree. Under the CLC Overseas Graduate Exemption, a law degree from a jurisdiction based on English common law lets you start at the Level 6 Diploma in Conveyancing Law and Practice. A law degree from any other legal system means you complete one extra unit, Level 4 Land Law, first. Either way, you also need at least 1,200 hours of supervised practical experience before applying to the Council for Licensed Conveyancers (CLC) for your licence.

Which route applies to my foreign law degree?

Many Commonwealth legal systems grew out of English common law, while most of continental Europe and Latin America follow civil law. Some countries have mixed systems. What matters is the legal system your degree was based on, not simply where you studied.

The route through Land Law for non-common law degrees is new. Under earlier CLC guidance, those graduates had to complete the full Level 4 and Level 6 route, so if you were told that in the past, it no longer applies.

How do I prove my degree was based on English common law?

The CLC places this responsibility on you as the applicant. The simplest way is to ask your university or awarding body for written confirmation that your law degree was based on English common law. If you cannot get that confirmation, plan for the Land Law route: it adds a single unit, and your path to Level 6 no longer depends on proving how your degree was taught.

What is the Level 4 Land Law unit, and can I skip it?

Land Law covers estates and interests in land, registration and co-ownership as English law treats them. That is the foundation of conveyancing and much of probate. For degrees from outside the common law tradition, the CLC treats it as the minimum academic requirement. It must be completed and certificated as a standalone unit, and it cannot be replaced by prior learning or work experience.

In some cases we may also recommend supplementary reading in the Level 4 Law of Contract unit, to strengthen your foundation before Level 6. This is decided case by case, and we will talk it through with you before you start.

Does a Masters in law (LLM) count?

Not normally. The CLC does not usually accept a Masters in law as a relevant qualification, because the subjects studied do not match its specialist topics and learning outcomes. A UK LLM on its own will not put you on either route. What counts is your law degree.

I'm already a qualified lawyer abroad. What changes?

Very little. The same academic rules apply whether you are new to law or cross-qualifying, and you still need qualifying practical experience in England and Wales: at least 1,200 hours of relevant legal work in a suitable legal workplace, evidenced by a Statement of Practical Experience. If you are weighing this against qualifying as a solicitor, read our comparison: SQE vs the CLC Overseas Graduate Exemption.

How much does it cost, and how long does it take?

At Access Law Online, the Level 6 Diploma is £1,920 (or from £160 a month at 0% interest), and Land Law, where you need it, adds £555. You study online at your own pace. Your licence timeline is usually set by your practical experience: 1,200 hours within a 24-month window, which most people build alongside their Level 6 studies. Our guide to the CLC practical experience requirements explains what counts.

More questions

Related reading: 2 new CLC exemptions explained

Source: CLC, Overseas Graduate Exemptions.