Solicitor vs Licensed Conveyancer: What's the Difference?

What Is a Solicitor?

A solicitor is a fully qualified lawyer able to advise on any area of law - not just property. Training takes 6+ years (law degree, Legal Practice Course, training contract). Regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA).

What Is a Licensed Conveyancer?

A licensed conveyancer is a property law specialist - they only do conveyancing. Training takes around 5 years. Regulated by the Council for Licensed Conveyancers (CLC). They cannot handle divorce, wills, commercial property disputes, or litigation.

Key Differences

Which Costs Less?

Licensed conveyancers are often 10–20% cheaper for standard residential conveyancing - lower overheads and specialisation mean greater efficiency. That said, prices vary more by firm than by qualification type. Always compare quotes from both.

Which Gives Better Protection?

Both are equally well protected:

When to Use a Solicitor

• Complex family situations: Divorce proceedings, inheritance disputes, family trusts, or power of attorney involved in the transaction
• Commercial property: Licensed conveyancers cannot handle most commercial work
• Disputes: Boundary issues, planning disputes, or litigation risk - solicitors can go to court; licensed conveyancers cannot
• One firm for everything: If you're also doing a will or LPA, a solicitor handles it all

When to Use a Licensed Conveyancer

• Standard residential purchase or sale - this is exactly what they specialise in
• Remortgage - simpler transaction, licensed conveyancers handle it routinely
• Budget matters - often 10–20% cheaper for the same work
• You want a pure specialist - property law is all they do, every day

Do Mortgage Lenders Prefer One Over the Other?

No. Mortgage lenders accept both SRA-regulated solicitors and CLC-regulated licensed conveyancers on their panels. What matters is whether the specific firm is on your lender's approved list - always check before instructing.

What If the Transaction Gets Complicated?

If you're using a licensed conveyancer and a complex legal issue arises outside property law (a divorce dispute, for example), they'll advise you to instruct a solicitor for that aspect. The licensed conveyancer continues handling the conveyancing; the solicitor handles the other legal matter. Using a solicitor from the start avoids this handoff.

How to Check Credentials

• Solicitors: Search the Law Society's "Find a Solicitor" tool or verify the SRA number on the SRA register
• Licensed conveyancers: Check the CLC's public register at clc-uk.org
• Red flag: Can't find the firm on either register - do not instruct them

Real-World Example: Same Transaction, Both Options

Scenario: Buying a £275,000 freehold house, first-time buyer, no complications

Difference: £426. For a straightforward transaction with reviews this close, the licensed conveyancer is the rational choice - but either is perfectly fine.

The Verdict

For 90% of residential property transactions, either a solicitor or a licensed conveyancer is appropriate. Choose based on price, recent reviews, how they communicate, and whether they're on your lender's panel - not on job title.