CLC Practical Experience Requirements | Licensed Conveyancer & Technician Work
CLC Practical Experience Requirements: Technician and Licensed Conveyancer
The Council for Licensed Conveyancers (CLC) sets two levels of practical experience. To register as a Conveyancing or Probate Technician you need 6 months of supervised work experience, evidenced by a Statement of Work Experience (SoWE). To qualify as a Licensed Conveyancer or Licensed Probate Practitioner you need 1,200 hours of supervised experience over no more than 24 months, evidenced by a Statement of Practical Experience (SoPE). The 1,200 hours are gained while you are enrolled on the Level 6 Diploma. This guide explains both routes, who can supervise you, what counts, and includes a free experience checker.
The two CLC practical experience requirements at a glance
Practical experience is how you turn the law you study into the skills the CLC expects from a working professional. The amount you need depends on the level of registration you are aiming for. Both routes must be supervised by an Authorised Person and recorded on the correct CLC form.
Technician (Level 4)
Supervised work experience, recorded on a Statement of Work Experience (SoWE).
- Full or part time, paid or voluntary
- Broad employer scope (firms, banks, building societies and more)
- Leads to the CLC Technician Register
Licensed Conveyancer (Level 6)
Supervised experience over up to 24 months, recorded on a Statement of Practical Experience (SoPE).
- Gained while enrolled on the Level 6 Diploma
- Completed within the past 36 months
- Must meet the CLC Day One Outcomes
The point most people miss: the 1,200 qualifying hours for a Licensed Conveyancer can only be counted once you are enrolled on the Level 6 Diploma. The CLC will not accept a SoPE that was signed off with the supervision completed before your Level 6 certificate was issued. The whole purpose is to apply the theory from your studies in real practice, so academic study and qualifying experience run alongside each other.
How the two routes fit together
Most people qualify in stages. You can register as a Technician after the Level 4 Diploma and six months of work experience, then progress to the Level 6 Diploma and the 1,200 hours needed for a full licence. You do not have to register as a Technician first, but many people do because it gives recognised status while they continue studying.
- Study the Level 4 Diploma. Build the foundational knowledge of conveyancing or probate law and practice.
- Complete 6 months of supervised work experience and submit your SoWE to join the CLC Technician Register.
- Enrol on the Level 6 Diploma and begin building your 1,200 qualifying hours alongside your advanced studies.
- Submit your SoPE after your Level 6 certificate is issued and apply to the CLC for your First Qualifying Licence.
Technician route: 6 months of work experience (SoWE)
Before you can apply to become a Conveyancing or Probate Technician and be listed on the CLC Technician Register, you must complete six months of work experience in relevant employment. The scope is broader than most people expect. Relevant employment includes a conveyancing or probate practice, a legal firm, or any organisation offering conveyancing or probate services to the public, which can include banks and building societies, housing associations, local authorities and property businesses.
The work can be full time or part time, and paid or voluntary, as long as you are assisting in the provision of conveyancing or probate services under the supervision of an Authorised Person who is your line manager. You evidence this with a certified Statement of Work Experience (SoWE), which your supervisor completes and signs.
To apply for Technician registration you need the Level 4 Diploma (or equivalent CLC accredited units), your six months of experience, a certified SoWE, certified photographic ID and certified copies of your educational certificates. There is no registration fee. The CLC routinely verifies SoWEs in all technician applications.
Licensed Conveyancer route: 1,200 hours (SoPE)
To apply for a CLC Licence you must demonstrate a minimum of 1,200 hours of supervised qualifying work experience, obtained over a period of 24 months and completed within the past 36 months. Your experience must also meet the CLC Day One Outcomes, including the competent completion of standard legal and technical processes, and show that you act in a professional, principled manner in line with the CLC Code of Conduct. You evidence all of this on a Statement of Practical Experience (SoPE).
The 1,200 hours can be gained in full time or part time employment, which makes the route flexible around your studies and personal circumstances. What they cannot do is pre-date your Level 6 enrolment. The CLC's clear expectation is that this experience is built up over the duration of the Level 6 Diploma so that you are applying your academic knowledge in live transactions.
Timing rule for the SoPE. Your SoPE must not be signed and verified, with the supervision recorded as completed, before the date your SQA Level 6 certificate is issued. A SoPE that breaks this rule is treated as invalid and will make your licence application incomplete. In practice this means: enrol on Level 6, gain your hours during your studies, then have the SoPE certified once your certificate has been issued.
What the SoPE must cover
Your supervisor confirms your competence across three areas:
- Technical processes: sales and purchases of freehold and leasehold property, acting for both seller and buyer, and broader matters such as tenanted property, co-owners, new build, planning, undertakings and powers of attorney. For probate, the equivalent technical processes apply.
- Day One Outcomes: ethical legal services, client care, risk and fraud awareness, data security, case progression, managing caseloads and client expectations, and continuing professional development.
- Ethical behaviours: acting with integrity and honesty, in clients' best interests, upholding the rule of law and the CLC Code of Conduct.
CLC Practical Experience Checker
Use this free checker to see roughly where you stand against the CLC requirements. Pick your target registration, answer a few questions, and we will estimate your progress. This is guidance only and does not replace the CLC's official assessment of your SoWE or SoPE.
Where do I stand?
Estimate your progress toward the CLC Technician or Licensed Conveyancer requirements.
This checker provides an estimate based on the CLC's published requirements. The CLC makes the final decision on every SoWE and SoPE. Always confirm your own circumstances with the CLC.
What counts as a Qualifying Employer?
For the 1,200 hour Licensed Conveyancer route, your experience must be gained with a Qualifying Employer. A Qualifying Employer is a business that is regulated by a statutory regulator (such as the CLC, CILEx Regulation or the SRA) in England and Wales, is licensed to provide conveyancing or probate services to the public in England and Wales, and has a registered main office in England and Wales. Alternatively, it can be a government body, local authority, utility company or national charity, where your work is supervised by an Authorised Person acting as in-house legal counsel.
If you cannot get supervision through one of these routes, for example as a sole practitioner, you must agree alternative supervision arrangements with the CLC before you begin the 1,200 hours. Email licensing@clc-uk.org and wait for written confirmation before starting.
Who can supervise you?
Both routes must be supervised by a Qualifying Authorised Person. That is a Licensed Conveyancer or Licensed Probate Practitioner, a Solicitor (with conveyancing or probate areas of practice published on the Law Society website), or a CILEX Lawyer who is a Conveyancing or Probate Practitioner and Fellow. Your supervisor must:
- be licensed by a regulatory body in England and Wales to offer conveyancing or probate services directly to the public;
- hold a current and valid licence, free of conditions;
- not be subject to any regulatory or disciplinary investigation or sanction during your supervision;
- be employed by your employer as your direct line manager or a delegated legal supervisor.
Peer arrangements, where consultants verify each other's forms, are not allowed. Supervision by a relative or spouse is only permitted in exceptional, pre-agreed circumstances that you must clear with the CLC in writing before you start.
How to record and submit your experience
| Technician | Licensed Conveyancer / Probate Practitioner | |
|---|---|---|
| Form | Statement of Work Experience (SoWE) | Statement of Practical Experience (SoPE) |
| Amount | 6 months of relevant employment | 1,200 hours over up to 24 months, within the last 36 months |
| When it counts | During or after your Level 4 studies | Once enrolled on Level 6; signed off only after your Level 6 certificate is issued |
| Standard met | Specified technical processes under supervision | CLC Day One Outcomes and Code of Conduct |
| Outcome | Listed on the CLC Technician Register | Eligible for the CLC First Qualifying Licence |
You download the correct SoWE or SoPE form from the CLC website, your supervisor certifies it, and you submit it with your application. The CLC verifies forms directly with the certifying Authorised Person. If a SoPE is not verified by the supervisor within 15 days, the application is returned as incomplete, so build in time for this step.
Probate Technicians and Licensed Probate Practitioners
The practical experience rules mirror each other for probate. A Probate Technician needs 6 months of relevant supervised experience and a SoWE; a Licensed Probate Practitioner needs 1,200 hours and a SoPE, gained while enrolled on the Level 6 Probate Diploma. The qualifying employer and supervisor definitions are the same, applied to probate services rather than conveyancing.
Your questions, answered
Can I count practical experience gained before I enrol on the Level 6 Diploma?
No, not toward the 1,200 hours for a Licensed Conveyancer. The CLC expects qualifying experience to be built up over the duration of the Level 6 Diploma, and a SoPE that records supervision completed before your Level 6 certificate is issued will be treated as invalid. Earlier experience can still be valuable for your six month Technician requirement and for your general development, but the 1,200 qualifying hours run alongside your Level 6 studies.
Can I gain the experience while I am still studying?
Yes. That is the intended approach. The CLC wants you to apply the theory from your Diploma in real transactions, so you build your hours while enrolled rather than waiting until you have finished. Your SoPE is then certified once your Level 6 certificate has been issued.
Does part time or voluntary work count?
For the Technician route, full or part time and paid or voluntary employment all count, as long as it is relevant and supervised. For the Licensed Conveyancer route the 1,200 hours can be gained in full or part time employment with a Qualifying Employer. Part time simply means it takes longer in calendar time to reach 1,200 hours, and you must still fit them within a 24-month window.
How long is 1,200 hours in practice?
It depends on your weekly hours. At around 35 hours a week it is roughly 34 to 35 weeks of full time work. At 20 hours a week it is about 60 weeks. The hours must be completed within a 24-month period, and that period must fall within the 36 months before you apply for your licence. Our checker above will estimate your own timeline.
Can I combine experience from more than one employer or supervisor?
Yes. You can combine periods with different qualifying employers and supervisors, provided each period meets the CLC's criteria and is properly certified. The SoWE and SoPE forms allow for more than one supervisor, with each section signed by the relevant Authorised Person for that period.
What if my employer does not deal directly with the public?
For experience to be relevant, the organisation generally needs to provide conveyancing or probate services to the public. A purely internal legal department that does not serve external clients may not qualify on its own, although government bodies, local authorities, utilities and national charities can qualify where an Authorised Person supervises you as in-house legal counsel. If you are unsure, confirm your specific situation with the CLC.
What are the CLC Day One Outcomes?
They are the standards a newly licensed conveyancer is expected to meet from their first day in practice. They cover professional conduct, legal and technical proficiency, and ethical behaviour, including client care, risk and fraud management, case progression and adherence to the CLC Code of Conduct. Your SoPE confirms you have demonstrated them.
What happens if my SoPE is found to be invalid?
A SoPE is invalid if the certifying person is not a Qualifying Authorised Person, the supervision was not in a Qualifying Employer, or it was signed with supervision completed before your Level 6 certificate was issued. An invalid SoPE is treated as a material omission and your licence application is considered incomplete, which can mean gaining further experience or resubmitting. This is why the timing and supervisor checks matter so much.
I do not have a conveyancing job yet. How do I start?
Many people begin by studying the Level 4 Diploma, which builds the knowledge employers look for, then seek a paralegal, assistant or trainee role. The Society of Licensed Conveyancers job board and the CLC Public Register of regulated firms are good starting points for finding a Qualifying Employer. An apprenticeship is another route, where study and supervised work experience are built in from the start.
Does an apprenticeship change the requirements?
The underlying CLC requirements are the same, but the structure is built into the apprenticeship. National Government Apprentices on the Level 4 Technician or Level 6 Licensed Conveyancer and Probate routes can have their SoWE or SoPE verified by a Legal Education and Training Supervisor as part of the End Point Assessment.
Start your route to qualifying
Whether you are aiming for Technician registration or a full licence, your practical experience runs alongside a recognised CLC qualification. Choose the diploma that fits where you are now.
Level 4 Diploma in Conveyancing
The foundational qualification and the academic side of Technician registration. No prior experience needed.
Explore Level 4 ConveyancingLevel 6 Diploma in Conveyancing
The advanced qualification you study while building your 1,200 hours toward a Licensed Conveyancer licence.
Explore Level 6 ConveyancingLevel 4 Diploma in Probate
The foundational probate qualification and the academic side of Probate Technician registration.
Explore Level 4 ProbateLevel 6 Diploma in Probate
The advanced probate qualification you study while building your hours toward a Licensed Probate Practitioner licence.
Explore Level 6 ProbateAuthoritative sources: CLC Practical Experience (Licensed Conveyancer) and Work Experience (Technicians). Always check the current CLC requirements, as rules can change.
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