By Legal Futures Associate Access Legal
Legal technology specialist, Access Legal, has released updated training courses to help law firms maintain their Conveyancing Quality Scheme (CQS) certification.
The updates, which were introduced in December, are mandatory for law firms with Access Legal being the only accredited provider of the CQS certification outside of The Law Society.
The courses help firms demonstrate that they have the expertise to deliver quality residential conveyancing advice, adhere to standardised processes and gain the necessary knowledge to educate clients on what to expect from their conveyancing services.
Adhering to the CQS certification helps firms to minimise risk of claims, protects the firm’s reputation, and recognises them as a trusted source of advice and information. The qualification is also a requirement to get on to lender panels, without which a conveyancing firm would be unable to practise. Once completed, a firm will be monitored and must undertake annual training to keep up to date with best practice principles.
When first obtaining the CQS certification, a firm must complete the one-off Core Training courses. This is split into a series of courses, with the latest covering Financial Crime and Protocol in Practice module. Firms that are already accredited will have to complete Update Training with the two new syllabuses discussing CQS Conveyancing Practice and CQS Risk, Compliance and Client Care.
Research undertaken by Access Legal[1] showed that as people have become used to flexible working, they want to be able to access training when it is convenient for them. As the CQS courses can take several hours, they fit around their working day, making them cost and time effective for both the employee and law firm.
Commenting on the importance of a CQS certification, Ed Jones, product manager for legal content at Access Legal, said:
“If law firms want to maintain their conveyancing client base, it’s important they are providing the best and most up-to-date knowledge to their clients. By being part of the Conveyancing Quality Scheme those going through the conveyancing process can be assured they are receiving the highest quality advice.
“The latest Core and Update training courses will broaden firms’ knowledge on the new HMLR (His Majesty’s Land Registry) digital process, leasehold properties, how to better compete in the market and how to protect against fraud.
“We are thrilled to still be the only accredited provider of CQS training alongside The Law Society in the industry and these courses are part of our continued strategy to lead legal learning in the sector.
“The CQS itself sets out a variety of obligations that are beyond the training courses. At Access Legal we can take the learnings a firm gains and facilitate them through a wider suite of solutions. Our legal compliance, case management and legal accounts software are just a few examples of how firms can work with us to continue strengthening their processes.”
More than 3,800 UK law firms currently benefit from Access Legal solutions. Its client portfolio includes The MAPD Group, Minster Law, Winn Solicitors, Wolferstans and Neves Solicitors LLP.
Launched in April 2021, Access Legal is part of The Access Group, one of the leading providers of business management software to mid-sized UK and Asia Pacific organisations.
Further information about the CQS Core Training and Update Training sessions can be found here.
