How to Check a Conveyancer's Regulatory Status

The quickest way to check a conveyancer's regulatory status is to search for the firm or individual directly on the Solicitors Regulation Authority register if they're a solicitor, or the Council for Licensed Conveyancers register if they're a licensed conveyancer, both of which are free and public. It takes a couple of minutes and tells you whether the person or firm is currently authorised to practise, whether there are any conditions attached to that authorisation, and whether anything unusual shows up on their record.

Most people never think to do this. You find a conveyancer through a recommendation, a comparison site, or your estate agent, you get a quote, and you instruct them. Job done. And honestly, in the vast majority of cases that works out fine, because most firms doing conveyancing in England and Wales are exactly what they say they are. But given that conveyancing involves your deposit money, your mortgage funds, and the legal transfer of what's probably the biggest asset you own, a two-minute regulatory check before you sign anything seems like a fairly small ask.

This piece walks through where those registers actually live, what the entries mean once you find them, and what else is worth checking beyond the basic regulatory status. A quick note before we get into it: I write this blog, I'm not a solicitor and I'm not a licensed conveyancer, so nothing here is personal legal advice. It's general information intended to help you ask better questions, not a substitute for professional guidance about your own specific transaction.

One more thing worth saying upfront. Checking regulatory status isn't about assuming the worst of every firm you come across. It's a basic due diligence step, similar to checking a tradesperson has the right qualifications before they start work on your house. Most firms pass with flying colours. The value is in catching the small minority that don't.

Table of contents

• Why checking regulatory status actually matters
• Who regulates conveyancers in England and Wales
• How to check a solicitor's status on the SRA register
• How to check a licensed conveyancer's status with the CLC
• What to actually look for once you find the entry
• Signs a firm might not be properly regulated
• Other checks worth doing alongside regulatory status
• What to do if something looks wrong
• FAQs about checking a conveyancer's regulatory status
• Summary and what to do next

Why checking regulatory status actually matters

Conveyancing sits in an odd spot compared with a lot of other professional services. Unlike, say, hiring an electrician, you can't always tell from the outside whether the person handling your transaction is properly qualified and accountable, because so much of the work happens behind the scenes: searches, contract review, liaising with the other side, handling client money. You mostly see the emails and the invoice, not the process itself.

What regulation is actually there to protect

Regulation exists to give you somewhere to turn if things go badly wrong, and to set a baseline standard that firms have to meet before they're allowed to handle client money and legal transactions at all. That includes things like:

• Compulsory professional indemnity insurance, so there's a route to compensation if the firm makes a mistake
• Rules around how client money (your deposit, for instance) is held and protected
• A complaints process you can escalate to if the firm itself won't resolve an issue
• Ongoing professional standards and, in many cases, continuing training requirements

None of that is visible on a firm's website. A slick site with glowing testimonials tells you almost nothing about whether the underlying legal entity is actually authorised to do this work. That's the gap a regulatory check fills.

It's also about catching genuine fraud

This sounds dramatic, but it's a real and well-documented issue in property transactions: fraudsters sometimes set up fake conveyancing firms, or impersonate real ones, specifically to intercept deposit payments. A quick regulatory check, alongside independently verifying bank details by phone before sending any money, is one of the simplest defences against this kind of scam. It's a small habit that closes off a genuinely nasty risk.

Who regulates conveyancers in England and Wales

There are two main routes into conveyancing work, and correspondingly two main regulators, plus a couple of related bodies worth knowing about.

The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA)

Solicitors who carry out conveyancing are regulated by the SRA, which is the regulatory arm separate from (though linked to) the Law Society. The SRA sets conduct rules, handles complaints about solicitors and law firms, and maintains a public register of every solicitor and firm authorised to practise in England and Wales.

The Council for Licensed Conveyancers (CLC)

Licensed conveyancers are specialist property lawyers who, rather than training as general solicitors, qualify specifically in property law and related areas such as probate. They're regulated by the CLC, which runs its own separate public register and complaints process.

Other bodies you might come across

• CILEx Regulation: regulates Chartered Legal Executives, some of whom carry out conveyancing work, often within a solicitors' firm
• The Law Society's Conveyancing Quality Scheme (CQS): not a regulator itself, but an accreditation that firms can apply for on top of their basic SRA regulation, intended to signal a certain standard of conveyancing practice
• The Legal Ombudsman: handles unresolved complaints about legal services once a firm's own internal complaints process has been exhausted, across most of these categories

Knowing which regulator applies to your conveyancer determines exactly which register you need to search, so it's worth confirming upfront whether you're dealing with a solicitor or a licensed conveyancer. Most firms state this clearly in their email signature or on their website footer, though if it isn't obvious, asking directly is entirely reasonable.

How to check a solicitor's status on the SRA register

The SRA maintains what it calls the "Find a solicitor" or SRA register tool, searchable directly on the SRA's own website. It's free, doesn't require an account, and covers every individual solicitor and every regulated firm in England and Wales.

Steps to search the SRA register

1. Go to the SRA's official website and locate the register or "check a solicitor's record" search tool
2. Search either by the individual solicitor's name or by the firm's name, whichever you have to hand
3. Confirm the details match: full name, firm name, and ideally the office location, since names aren't always unique
4. Check the entry for the solicitor's current status (practising or not), and for the firm's authorisation status
5. Look for any notes about conditions, restrictions, or regulatory decisions attached to the record

What a clean entry looks like

A straightforward, unremarkable entry will show the solicitor as currently practising, list the firm they're associated with, and show the firm itself as an authorised and regulated entity with no flagged conditions. That's what you're hoping to see, and honestly, that's what you'll see the overwhelming majority of the time.

Checking the firm as well as the individual

It's worth checking both the individual and the firm separately, because a genuine solicitor can sometimes be named on a firm's marketing while the underlying entity handling your money is something else entirely, particularly with introducer arrangements or panel structures. If the firm name on your invoice doesn't match the firm name on the register entry for the solicitor you've been dealing with, that's worth a direct question before you go any further.

How to check a licensed conveyancer's status with the CLC

If your conveyancer is a licensed conveyancer rather than a solicitor, the process is broadly similar but you'll be using the CLC's own public register instead of the SRA's.

Steps to search the CLC register

1. Visit the CLC's official website and find its public register or "find a conveyancer" search feature
2. Search by individual name or by the practice name
3. Check that the individual is shown as currently licensed and in good standing
4. Confirm the practice itself is listed as an authorised, regulated body
5. Look for any disciplinary notes, undertakings, or restrictions recorded against either the individual or the practice

A note on smaller specialist practices

Licensed conveyancer practices are sometimes smaller, specialist operations rather than large multi-service law firms, which is neither a good nor a bad thing in itself. Size isn't really what the regulatory check is trying to establish. What matters is simply that the practice and the individual handling your file both appear correctly, currently, and without concerning notes on the CLC's public record.

What to actually look for once you find the entry

Finding an entry is only half the job. Reading it properly is the part people tend to skip.

Key things to check on any register entry

• Current status: is the individual actively practising or licensed right now, not just at some point in the past
• Firm match: does the firm shown match the firm you've actually been quoted by and are planning to pay
• Conditions or restrictions: some entries note conditions on practice, which might range from minor administrative matters to more significant restrictions
• Disciplinary history: both regulators publish some disciplinary decisions, which are worth a quick look if anything appears
• Date of qualification: not a red flag either way, but useful context, particularly if you're weighing up experience alongside other factors

Context matters more than a single detail

A single old, resolved disciplinary note from many years ago doesn't necessarily mean much on its own; professionals occasionally make mistakes and put them right, and regulators do publish minor historic matters alongside serious ones. What's more telling is a pattern, or something recent and unresolved, or a firm that simply doesn't appear on the register at all despite claiming to be regulated. Use judgement rather than treating every entry as pass or fail.

Signs a firm might not be properly regulated

Most of the time a regulatory check will simply confirm what you already assumed. Occasionally, though, something doesn't add up, and it's worth knowing what that tends to look like.

Warning signs worth taking seriously

• The firm name on your invoice or bank details doesn't match anything you can find on either register
• The individual you've been emailing doesn't appear under the firm they claim to work for
• The firm is reluctant, evasive, or oddly defensive when you ask which regulator they're authorised by
• Bank details for your deposit are provided only by email with no verbal confirmation available, and pressure is applied to pay quickly
• The website has no clear regulatory information at all, no SRA or CLC number, and no registered office address

Why this matters most around deposit payments

The point in a transaction where regulatory verification matters most is right before you transfer any significant sum of money, particularly your deposit. Genuine conveyancing firms expect to be asked to confirm their bank details by phone using a number you've sourced independently (not one taken from the same email that gave you the account details). If a firm resists that request or seems put out by it, treat that as a serious signal rather than an inconvenience, regardless of what their registration status shows.

Other checks worth doing alongside regulatory status

A clean register entry is reassuring, but it's not the only thing worth looking at before you instruct a firm.

Complementary checks

• Professional indemnity insurance: regulated firms are required to hold this, but it doesn't hurt to ask directly what level of cover applies
• Conveyancing Quality Scheme accreditation: an additional, optional Law Society badge some solicitor firms hold, on top of standard SRA regulation
• Companies House record: for firms operating as limited companies, a quick look at filing history and directors can add useful context
• Genuine client reviews: useful alongside regulatory checks, though best read for recurring patterns rather than individual comments
• Physical address verification: a real, checkable office address (rather than just a PO box or a generic serviced-office listing) adds another data point

None of these checks are foolproof alone

No single check guarantees a smooth transaction, and regulatory status certainly isn't a substitute for good communication or fair pricing. But stacking a handful of quick, free checks together, the regulator's register, a look at reviews, a sense check on the firm's contact details, gives you a reasonably rounded picture before you commit your money and your time to a firm.

What to do if something looks wrong

If a regulatory check throws up something odd, don't panic, but don't ignore it either.

Practical next steps

1. Go back to the firm directly and ask a plain, specific question about the discrepancy you've spotted
2. If the answer doesn't add up, or you don't get a straight answer at all, pause before sending any money
3. Contact the relevant regulator directly, the SRA or the CLC, if you suspect a firm is misrepresenting its status
4. Report suspected fraud to Action Fraud if you believe you're dealing with a fake or impersonated firm
5. Consider instructing a different, independently verified firm if your concerns aren't resolved satisfactorily

It's worth remembering that raising a query with a genuine firm is completely normal, and a properly regulated conveyancer won't be offended by a client double-checking their credentials. If anything, a good firm will find it reassuring that you're paying attention.

FAQs about checking a conveyancer's regulatory status

Is it normal to check a conveyancer's regulatory status before instructing them?
Yes, it's a sensible and increasingly common step, particularly given how often conveyancing fraud specifically targets deposit payments. A genuine firm won't mind you doing it.

Do I need to check both the individual and the firm?
Ideally yes. Checking just the individual solicitor or licensed conveyancer can miss cases where the firm handling your money differs from the one named in your day-to-day contact.

What's the difference between a solicitor and a licensed conveyancer for regulatory purposes?
Solicitors are regulated by the SRA and can generally advise on a wider range of legal matters, while licensed conveyancers are regulated by the CLC and specialise specifically in property and related work. Both routes involve genuine regulation and both registers are worth checking depending on which type of professional you're dealing with.

Is checking the register free?
Yes, both the SRA register and the CLC register are free public tools, available directly on each regulator's own website, with no account or payment required.

What should I do if a firm isn't on either register at all?
Ask the firm directly for clarification before proceeding any further, and treat this as a genuine cause for caution rather than something to brush past, especially before transferring any money.

Does a clean regulatory check mean the firm will definitely do a good job?
Not on its own, no. It confirms the firm meets a basic legal and professional standard, but things like communication, workload, and general service quality still vary between regulated firms, so it's worth combining a regulatory check with reviews and direct questions about how they work.

Summary and what to do next

• Confirm whether your conveyancer is a solicitor (SRA-regulated) or a licensed conveyancer (CLC-regulated)
• Search the relevant free public register for both the individual and the firm before you instruct anyone
• Check current status, any conditions, and whether the firm name matches what you've actually been quoted
• Always verify bank details by phone, using an independently sourced number, before sending any deposit money
• Combine the regulatory check with reviews and a few direct questions for a fuller picture of the firm

As I said up top, I'm approaching this as someone who writes about the property process, not as a solicitor or licensed conveyancer, so please treat this as a starting point for your own research rather than advice tailored to your specific transaction. Regulators change their tools and processes from time to time, so it's always worth checking the SRA's and CLC's own websites directly for the most current guidance.

Need help or have questions?

We can't tell you whether a specific firm is right for your transaction, since that would cross into the kind of personal advice only a qualified solicitor or licensed conveyancer should give. What we can do is point you towards more general guides on choosing and checking conveyancers if you're still working through your options.

If you've got a general question about anything covered in this article, our contact form is the quickest way to reach us. Just send your question through and we'll get back to you.

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This blog isn't a law firm and this article isn't a substitute for proper legal advice. For guidance specific to your own move, please speak to a qualified solicitor or licensed conveyancer.