The legal procedures associated with the buying and selling of a property is called conveyancing. Often, the legalities associated with conveyancing may seem to be confusing for a layman. This is the main reason why people search for good conveyancing solicitors for assisting them in making their task easier. However, before you move on with the conveyancing process it is crucial to have a basic idea about the organizations and regularities associated with the process.
SRA or Solicitors Regulation Authority and CLC or Council for Licensed Conveyancers are two of the main organisations that you would probably hear about when dealing with the conveyancing process. It is important to learn about these organizations and their relevance in the process of conveyancing. Read on to get a complete an idea about both these authorities.
Solicitors Regulation Authority
Solicitors Regulation Authority which was called Law Society Regulation Board earlier was established in January 2007 with an objective to ensure professional performance and secure the quality of service and behavior of the solicitors to the clients. Solicitors Regulation Authority is the authority for more than 120,000 solicitors in England and whales.
It is still part of Law Society of England and Wales, but it operates separately keeping its individuality. As a result of report submitted by Sir David Clement the previous governor of Bank of England, the Law Society entrusted the organization with regulatory powers. The organization plays a significant role in regulating various actions of the solicitors and acts in favor of public interest.
Setting norms for lawyers
The standards for lawyers are set in such a way that it provides confidence for the public in the law system and the solicitors.
- The basic standards to get qualified as a solicitor are kept forward by the SRA.
- The performance of the organizations providing formal training for solicitors are regularly monitored by the SRA.
- The rules of conduct and regulations regarding ethical issues, which affect the professionalism of the solicitors, are drafted by the SRA to ensure the protection of the client’s interests.
- Maintaining the solicitor’s registers.
- Make the public aware of the duties of solicitors.
- Provide guidance for constant development in solicitor’s career.
Independent Regulations
The main aim of SRA is to protect the interest of the clients seeking legal assistance. Some of the activities of SRA in this regard include:
- SRA checks solicitors and solicitor firms, to ensure that they are abiding by the rules and regulations.
- SRA updates the law enforcement agencies and other regulators to give maximum protection to the rights of the public.
- In case of complaints, the SRA takes necessary disciplinary actions against the solicitors.
- The SRA even closes down legal firms as a part of protecting the interests of clients. They mediate and get the money and documents back to the owners.
- SRA also has a compensatory fund for refunding the amount lost by the clients due to dishonesty of the solicitor or due to some mistakes in the accounts maintained by the solicitors.
SRA is always keen in maintaining the quality of work provided to the public. They constantly bring improvements to their decorum by considering the public opinions, government suggestions, comments from legal professionals and other solicitor groups. The services of SRA is monitored and regulated by the Legal Services Board.
Council for Licensed Conveyancers
Council for Licensed Conveyancers is a legal authority established under the Administration of Justice Act 1985. It has been regulating licensed conveyancers in Wales and England for more than 25 years. Recently the CLC also extended their field of expertise to include other law services like Alternative Business Structures (ABS), probate etc.
The mission of CLC is to protect the public interest, provide consumer choice and also to promote useful competition in the legal market. They implement it by setting entry standards and regulating providers for new Conveyancers in order to deliver premium quality and accessible services.
The main aim of CLC includes:
- Setting standards of educational qualification and other training to start conveyancing practices
- Issuing licenses to qualified individuals to offer conveyancing and probate services and to Alternative Business Structures
- Keeping register of licensed conveyancers and regulated bodies practicing within the country
- Setting standards to regulate the practice, discipline, conduct and control of certified conveyancers and regulated bodies
- Setting standards to maintain adequate professional insurance cover along with a compensation fund to guard consumers
- Monitoring the project and conduct of controlled bodies
- Providing instruction and advice to controlled bodies to maintain compliance with regulatory demands
- Investigating allegations of misconduct and taking disciplinary actions wherever necessary
- Teaming up key stakeholders in the legal companies to monitor and shape future policy.
As per the Legal Services Act 2007, the CLC has many obligations to the public. The important functions and obligation include:
- Defending and promoting the general public interest
- holding the constitutional principle regarding the rules of Law
- Civilizing access to law
- Protecting and endorsing the consumer interest
- Promoting healthy competition regarding services rendered by ‘authorised persons’ as defined in the Legal services Act
- Encouraging an impartial, strong, various and efficient legal profession
- Increasing awareness on the citizen’s rights and duties
- Promoting, along with maintaining constancy of, the professional ideas which it considers best to meet those people objectives
All the activities of CLC are monitored by Legal services Board.
