Conveyancers, an essential cog in property’s legal wheel, are facing record levels of demand for their services and a 20 per cent shortfall of skilled workers, according to a representative body.
Australian Institute of Conveyancers SA (AICSA) CEO Carmel Noon said there was a need to raise the profile of conveyancing as a career to remedy the current insufficiency the industry is grappling with due to a booming market.
“They’re an essential part of the property process, and without them, the property market might stall and slow an important sector of the economy,” Ms Noon remarked, adding that many businesses had been struggling to fill open roles since the pandemic kicked off a buying and selling frenzy.
She described it as an ideal profession for a mid-life career change, for anyone considering starting their own business to afford them more flexible working conditions, and for those with interest in legal affairs and real estate.
To become a conveyancer, professionals need to undertake a nationally accredited course, the Advanced Diploma of Conveyancing, which is generally completed in 18 to 24 months.
Ms Noon also stressed the importance of understanding the integral role they play in the property market, both to boost awareness of the profession and to ensure the vitality of the real estate sector.
“Property buyers and sellers – whether they be first-timers, families, investors or businesses – are reliant on a conveyancer to ensure the process is carried out without mistakes. Buying or selling a property is one thing most people will do in their lifetime, and without an astute conveyancer, the property transaction could be put in jeopardy,” Ms Noon said.
“Conveyancers are the unsung heroes of the property industry as a sale cannot go through without a conveyancer.”
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Juliet Helmke
Based in Sydney, Juliet Helmke has a broad range of reporting and editorial experience across the areas of business, technology, entertainment and the arts. She was formerly Senior Editor at The New York Observer.