Licensed Conveyancer vs Solicitor: Routes, Cost & Time Compared
Licensed Conveyancer vs Solicitor: Routes, Cost & Time Compared
If you want to work in property law, you do not need to spend five or six years and tens of thousands of pounds qualifying as a solicitor. Becoming a Licensed Conveyancer through the Council for Licensed Conveyancers (CLC) is the faster, more affordable and more focused route: two diplomas plus supervised practical experience, around 18 to 24 months of flexible study, and academic course fees of about £4,230 self-funded. This page compares both routes, shows how to switch across if you have already started training as a solicitor, and explains how you can add probate and other specialisms later.
(vs 5 to 6 years for a solicitor)
(vs £20,000 to £40,000)
first-time pass rates
The short verdict
If your goal is to qualify and earn as a property lawyer, the Licensed Conveyancer route wins on cost, speed and focus. You qualify in a fraction of the time, for a fraction of the price, and you study property law rather than the whole legal curriculum. Choose the solicitor route only if you genuinely want the option to practise across many areas of law, such as litigation, family, crime or corporate, rather than specialising in property and probate.
The two routes at a glance
Licensed Conveyancer
- Qualifications
- CLC Level 4 + Level 6 Diplomas in Conveyancing Law & Practice
- Experience
- Around 1,200 hours of supervised practice
- Time to qualify
- About 18 to 24 months (2 to 3 years typical)
- Cost to qualify
- About £4,230 self-funded, or fully funded via apprenticeship
- Regulator
- Council for Licensed Conveyancers (CLC)
- Entry
- No degree needed (usually four GCSEs incl. English)
Solicitor
- Qualifications
- A degree (any subject), then SQE 1 and SQE 2 assessments
- Experience
- Two years of Qualifying Work Experience (QWE)
- Time to qualify
- About 5 to 6 years including a degree
- Cost to qualify
- Commonly £20,000 to £40,000, before the degree
- Regulator
- Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA)
- Entry
- An undergraduate degree (a non-law degree needs a conversion)
What is the difference between a licensed conveyancer and a solicitor?
A solicitor is a general legal professional. They train across the whole of law and can then practise in almost any area, from property and probate to litigation, family, employment or corporate work. Solicitors are regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA).
A Licensed Conveyancer is a specialist property lawyer. They are trained and qualified specifically in conveyancing, the legal transfer of property, and are regulated by the Council for Licensed Conveyancers (CLC). A Licensed Conveyancer can do everything a conveyancing solicitor does on a property transaction, can run files independently once licensed, can supervise others, and can own or run a CLC-regulated practice. Many also qualify in probate.
For the client buying or selling a home, the day to day service is the same. The real difference is in the training: a solicitor learns all of law and then specialises, while a Licensed Conveyancer trains directly in the area they intend to work in. That focus is what makes the conveyancer route shorter and cheaper.
Side by side: licensed conveyancer vs solicitor
| Criteria | Licensed Conveyancer (CLC route) | Solicitor (SQE route) |
|---|---|---|
| What you qualify as | A specialist property lawyer, able to run conveyancing files and a CLC practice; can add probate. | A general lawyer able to practise across many areas of law. |
| Qualifications needed | CLC Level 4 and Level 6 Diplomas in Conveyancing Law & Practice. | A degree (any subject), then SQE 1 and SQE 2 assessments. |
| Practical experience | The CLC's practical experience requirement, in the region of 1,200 hours of supervised work. | Two years of Qualifying Work Experience (QWE). |
| Typical time to qualify | Around 18 to 24 months of study; most learners allow 2 to 3 years alongside work. | Around 5 to 6 years including a degree. |
| Indicative cost to qualify | About £4,230 for the two self-funded diplomas (interest-free instalments available). Apprenticeship route can be fully funded. | Commonly £20,000 to £40,000 for the degree plus SQE preparation and exam fees. |
| Entry requirements | No degree required; usually four GCSEs grade 9 to 4 including English. Open to school leavers and career changers. | An undergraduate degree; a non-law degree needs a conversion course. |
| How you study | Flexible, online, distance learning. Start now or in 14 days. Study around a job. | Largely campus or fixed-cohort study for the degree, plus SQE preparation courses. |
| Regulator | Council for Licensed Conveyancers (CLC). | Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA). |
| Scope of practice | Property and (with further qualification) probate. A focused specialism. | Any area of law, subject to competence and supervision. |
| Best for | People who know they want to work in property or probate and want to qualify quickly and affordably. | People who want the broadest possible legal career and the option to switch fields. |
What can each actually do?
A Licensed Conveyancer can
- Act independently for buyers, sellers, lenders and developers
- Run residential and commercial conveyancing files end to end
- Handle exchange, completion, Land Registry and SDLT
- Manage client money through a CLC-compliant client account
- Supervise staff and, with experience, own or run a CLC firm
- Add probate by qualifying as a Licensed Probate Practitioner
A solicitor can
- Practise across many areas: property, family, crime, corporate and more
- Specialise in conveyancing, but is not required to
- Represent clients in a wider range of legal matters
- Move between fields of law over a career
Breadth is the trade-off for a longer, more expensive route.
How long does each route take to qualify?
The Licensed Conveyancer route is significantly shorter. A motivated learner can complete both the Level 4 and Level 6 Diplomas in around 18 to 24 months of flexible study, building the CLC's required practical experience while they work. At Access Law Online, experienced students using our knowledge-mapping assessments can move even faster, with no minimum wait before booking an assessment.
The solicitor route is far longer: a qualifying degree of three years (or a degree plus conversion), then the SQE 1 and SQE 2 assessments, plus two years of Qualifying Work Experience. In practice that is about five to six years from a standing start. For someone who already knows they want a career in property, that is potentially three or four years saved.
How much does each route cost?
Cost is where the gap is widest. The two diplomas that qualify you academically as a Licensed Conveyancer total about £4,230 self-funded, and you can spread that over interest-free instalments. The solicitor route, with a degree, often a conversion course, and then SQE preparation and assessment fees, commonly runs to £20,000 to £40,000 before the degree itself.
No-fee option: the apprenticeship route
If cost is a barrier, a conveyancing apprenticeship removes course fees entirely. You earn a salary while you train, and the training is covered by your employer and government funding (100% for levy-paying employers, 95% for non-levy).
Is it easier to qualify as a licensed conveyancer?
Easier is the wrong word for any legal qualification, because the CLC Diplomas are rigorous and externally assessed. But the conveyancer route is more achievable for most people, for three clear reasons:
- No degree barrier. You can start from school, college or a career change, without years of prior study or student debt.
- Focused content. You study property law rather than the entire legal curriculum, so your effort goes where you want to work.
- Earn while you learn. You study flexibly online and qualify alongside a job, instead of taking years out for full-time study.
The result is a genuine, regulated legal career reached in less time, at lower cost, and with far less debt.
Already training to be a solicitor? How to switch and what you can skip
One of the strongest reasons to consider the CLC route is that you do not lose what you have already done. Study towards becoming a solicitor can count towards qualifying as a Licensed Conveyancer, often letting you skip the whole of Level 4 and go straight to the Level 6 Diploma. Here is how it works at different stages.
You have a law degree (LLB), GDL or BA in Law
A recognised law degree usually qualifies you for the CLC's Law Graduate Fast Track: an exemption from the Level 4 Diploma, so you progress directly to Level 6 and the occupational requirements. Years of legal study convert into a near-term property qualification.
You have started or finished the LPC or SQE 1
Holders of the LPC, SQE 1 passes and relevant CILEx Level 6 units can typically claim exemptions from CLC Diploma units. Subjects such as property law and practice, wills and administration of estates or solicitors' accounts can map across, cutting your study time and cost.
You have years of fee-earning experience but no degree
The CLC's Professional Experience route is for people who have worked as a fee earner in conveyancing or probate for at least four years. It lets experienced staff bypass the Level 4 Diploma and progress straight to Level 6, recognising the skills built on the job.
In short
A part-finished solicitor journey is not wasted. It can become a shortcut to qualifying as a Licensed Conveyancer in a fraction of the remaining time and cost. Exemptions depend on what you hold, so check your position with the CLC Exemptions Calculator.
Can you qualify in other areas later?
Yes. Choosing the conveyancer route does not lock you into a single specialism for life. Once you are qualified, you can build on your CLC qualification and add further areas of practice. The most popular next step is probate: a qualified Licensed Conveyancer can go on to become a Licensed Probate Practitioner, handling the legal administration of estates. Because you already hold the shared foundation, this is an accelerated step rather than starting again, and the CLC's Professional Experience route lets experienced fee earners progress directly to the Level 6 Diploma in Probate Law & Practice.
Add probate on an accelerated route
Already a Licensed Conveyancer, or close to it? Convert to a Licensed Probate Practitioner via the Level 6 Probate Diploma and broaden your practice under the same regulator.
Which route should you choose?
Choose Licensed Conveyancer if you
- Want a focused, regulated career in property law
- Want to qualify in around two years, not five or six
- Want to keep costs low and study while you earn
- Do not have, or do not want to pay for, a full degree
Choose Solicitor if you
- Want the option to practise across many areas of law
- Value breadth over speed and cost
- Are willing to commit the extra years and expense
Ready to take the conveyancer route? Start with the Level 4 Diploma, then progress to the Level 6 Diploma. If you already have legal study or fee-earning experience behind you, you may go straight to Level 6. New to the field? Our full guide on how to become a Licensed Conveyancer walks through the entire pathway, timescales and entry requirements.
Start your route
Level 4 Diploma in Conveyancing
From £192.50/mo over 12 (£2,310 in full)
Your starting point on the CLC route. Builds the legal foundations and core conveyancing knowledge. No degree required.
View Level 4Level 6 Diploma in Conveyancing
From £160/mo over 12 (£1,920 in full)
The qualifying level for Licensed Conveyancers. Where law graduates and experienced fee earners can often start directly.
View Level 6Level 6 Probate
From £160/mo over 12 (£1,920 in full)
Add a specialism. Qualify as a Licensed Probate Practitioner, an accelerated next step once you hold a CLC qualification.
View ProbateConveyancing Apprenticeship
No tuition fees, earn while you train
Qualify with no course fees and a salary. Training is covered by your employer and government funding.
View ApprenticeshipFrequently asked questions
Is a licensed conveyancer the same as a solicitor?
No. A Licensed Conveyancer is a specialist property lawyer regulated by the Council for Licensed Conveyancers, while a solicitor is a general lawyer regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority. For a property transaction the service is equivalent, but a solicitor is trained across all areas of law, whereas a Licensed Conveyancer trains specifically in conveyancing.
Is it cheaper to become a licensed conveyancer than a solicitor?
Yes, considerably. The two CLC diplomas that qualify you academically as a Licensed Conveyancer cost about £4,230 in total and can be paid in interest-free instalments. The solicitor route, with a degree plus the SQE, commonly totals £20,000 to £40,000. An apprenticeship route can remove course fees altogether.
How long does it take to qualify as a licensed conveyancer?
Around 18 to 24 months of flexible study to complete both diplomas, with the CLC's practical experience built up while you work. Most learners allow two to three years alongside a job. The solicitor route, by contrast, usually takes five to six years.
Do I need a degree to become a licensed conveyancer?
No. There is no degree requirement. Entry is usually four GCSEs at grade 9 to 4 including English, so the route is open to school leavers and career changers. If you do hold a law degree or other legal qualifications, you may be exempt from part of the course.
I started training to be a solicitor. Can I switch to the conveyancer route?
Yes, and your previous study can count. A law degree, GDL, LPC or SQE 1 can earn exemptions, often letting you skip the Level 4 Diploma and go straight to the Level 6 Diploma. Experienced fee earners can use the CLC Professional Experience route to do the same. Check your position with the CLC Exemptions Calculator.
Can a licensed conveyancer also do probate?
Yes. A qualified Licensed Conveyancer can go on to qualify as a Licensed Probate Practitioner through the Level 6 Diploma in Probate Law & Practice. Because you already hold the shared foundation, this is an accelerated step, and experienced practitioners may progress directly to Level 6.
Ready to qualify faster, for less?
Start your route to becoming a Licensed Conveyancer with flexible online study, interest-free instalment plans and an industry-recognised CLC qualification. Begin now or in 14 days.
Explore the Conveyancing Diplomas →