Manchester Messenger July 2016

22 News
CILEX
The Future of Conveyancing
Adam Bullion, General Manager of Marketing at InfoTrack
explores how we have embraced technology and how
technology needs to be employed to reduce the time
between instruction and completion.
Looking back, it’s probably
fair to say that the
processes associated with
conveyancing haven’t
changed dramatically,
other than the failed HIPS
scheme almost 10 years
ago. However, you’re
probably aware that the
Department for Business,
Innovation and Skills (BIS)
will soon issue its ‘Call for
Evidence’ as they look at
the future of conveyancing.
This is in response to
home buyer experiences
where there is an unknown
outlay of costs due
to delays within the
process.
Conveyancers themselves
would admit to sharing similar
frustrations with the
process. Presently, conveyancers
are visiting a
plethora of websites to
complete matters. That
means rekeying the same
information repeatedly into
unrelated systems that look
completely different. And
with each site requiring a
different log in and password,
it’s simply inefficient
when you compare it to the
aggregated technology in
our personal lives.
Consider how we manage
our day to day lives now
we’re living in a 24-hour society.
We all have a myriad
of useful ‘apps’ on our smart
phone or tablet which is
technology that we enjoy
using. It’s these experiences
that change our expectations
– to the point where
we now demand more. Having
been exposed to clever
and intuitive technology we
now have an elevated expectation
of instant results.
Unfortunately, the same
can’t be said of the conveyancing
process, a
process that some consider
as being suffocated by regulation.
Conveyancers’ frustrations
are clear – too many
steps in the process to manage
risk. Too many forms to
complete. Too much rekeying
of data. And too much
time spent managing
clients who don’t understand
the conveyancing
procedure. Taking into account
all these frustrations,
we simply need functional,
enjoyable technology that
ensures the process is made
smoother, faster and easier.
The simplest answer is to
use technology that reduces
the time between instruction
and completion,
keeping both the conveyancer
and homebuyer
happy. Companies that
offer technology for the
conveyancing industry
need to focus on incorporating
all steps of the conveyancing
process,
including AP1 Transfer, SDLT
Submissions and even the
Contract Pack, in order to
make it easier to manage;
simple steps that reduce the
stress of a transaction for
both the conveyancer and
their client.
Providing the industry with
the ability to complete all
relevant searches, transfers,
form submissions and contracts
within a single website
means that
conveyancers will start saving
time from the moment
the quote is issued, and we
all know that time is money.
Utilising a single website
where all aspects of the
process link together eliminates
any rekeying of information
and accessing of
multiple sites simplifying
the various tasks.
The future of conveyancing
is very much a change of
technology rather than the
home buying process. And
that’s why it is now important
that conveyancers
adopt technological
change. In the crowded
market of suppliers, there
are technology innovators
but it’s up to the conveyancer
to take a step back
and look objectively at technology
solutions that deliver
against their needs.
InfoTrack already has a fantastic
heritage of delivering
superior information services
in Australia and has
brought that same vision to
the UK market, with a fast
growing base of happy
clients working with a more
efficient platform. InfoTrack
are applying forward thinking
technology that truly
challenges the traditional
methods of completing a
matter, ensuring all tasks –
from instruction to postcompletion
– can be completed
within a single
system.
Manchester Free Legal Help
The Manchester Free
Legal Help (MFLH) is a
support service located at
the Manchester Civil Justice
Centre.
Its aim is to assist people
who need legal advice and
support but are unable to
afford it, or are not entitled
to Legal Aid. The impact of
legal aid cuts, on both
clients and the legal profession
is great. MFLH is committed
to ensuring that
Litigants in Person receive
access to justice and it
should not be seen as a substitute
for Legal Aid funding.
MFLH was set up in September
2014 by The University
of Manchester School of
Law and is a clinic of and
supported by LawWorks.
The service offers pro bono
legal advice and support by
coordinating appointments
(face to face or telephone)
with a volunteer
solicitor/barrister. To assist
with and increase the number
of available appointments
MFLH uniquely
brings together a number
of volunteers with wide
ranging skills from law firms,
chambers and three academic
institutions (The
School of Law at The University
Of Manchester, The University
of Law and BPP).
Students are supervised by
solicitors and barristers, giving
them the opportunity to
connect with the local legal
profession, as well as gain
valuable skills by actively
engaging with clients who
are often well in to the litigation
process.
The Centre needs volunteer
solicitors and barristers to
assist in providing free legal
advice in different areas of
law such as civil litigation,
consumer rights, wills and
probate, immigration, family,
welfare and more. With
the help of volunteers the
Centre can assist some of
the most vulnerable members
of the community to
access much needed legal
advice and support, in the
fewest steps necessary, thus
saving resources and time.
For firms, involvement with
the Centre is a fantastic addition
to their corporate social
responsibility agenda,
which in turn bolsters its
reputation amongst potential
new clients and employees.
For trainees and junior
lawyers, the service offers a
unique opportunity to access
hands on experience
interacting with clients in
wide ranging areas of law.
The Centre offers volunteers
the ability to do pro bono
work, help Litigants in Person
and support the local
community. The Project Coordinator
will assess the
client needs, take a full referral
with all relevant information
of their case and link
them with the most appropriate
pro bono advisor or
support service thus making
it easier and less time
consuming for the volunteers.
For more information and
to get involved please call
0161 240 5034 or email
freelegalhelp@manchester.ac.uk
MFLH is a sister project of
The University of Manchester
School of Law Legal Advice
Centre (LAC) that has
been running for over 17
years. What started as an
opportunity for law students
to gain clinical education
and experience of ‘real
life’ clients has grown into a
vital community service, advising
the Manchester
conurbation on a variety of
legal issues, including family,
employment, housing,
and dementia law.
Due to the increase in the
number of mental health requests
the LAC worked hard
to create a sustainable advice
and support network
for these clients. The Dementia
Law Clinic, which
has been created in partnership
with the charity Making
Space, offers free legal
assistance for sufferers of
dementia and their families.
This Clinic has been hugely
successful, and the LAC was
recently awarded ‘Best New
Student Pro Bono Activity’
at the LawWorks & Attorney-General
Awards in London
in recognition of the
positive impact the work in
the Dementia Law arena
has had on the local community.
In addition, the
work done by the LAC was
recently awarded Highly
Commended in the ‘Inspiring
Communities’ category
at the University of Manchester
Social Responsibility
Awards.
The University of Manchester
is dedicated to alleviating
the detrimental effects
of the cuts to legal aid, and
through the LAC and MFLH
is working to increase access
to justice and support
the local community
through innovative but sustainable
free advice services.
MFLH contact details
Email: freelegalhelp@manchester.ac.uk
Tel: 0161 240 5034
Website: manchesterfreelegalhelp.org.uk
Twitter: @mancfreelegal
LAC contact details
Email: free.legal@manchester.ac.uk
Tel: 0161 275 7976
CILEX News
The Greater Manchester CILEx branch would like to
thank Christopher Boxall and Phillipa Hildyard of Park
Square Barristers
(http://www.parksquarebarristers.co.uk/) for providing
May’s training. Christopher and Philippa provided on
training on instructions to Counsel and what information
Counsel would require. The Training was extremely popular
and helpful for all who attended.
The Chartered Institute of Legal Executives (CILEx)
scooped the award for 'Best Social mobility initiative by
a professional body' in the 2016 MemCom Membership
Awards held at the Royal College of Obstetricians and
Gynaecologists, London on 19 May.
The MemCom Awards recognise excellence in membership
organisation communications. The social mobility
initiative category was introduced this year to recognise
the changing work of professional bodies. The award
was judged by Nicholas Miller, Director, The Bridge
Group (an independent, not for profit, policy association
promoting social mobility) and Suzanne Maskrey,
Deputy Chief Executive, Brightside (a charity that helps
young people access the education and career pathways
they might not have believed were available to them).
The judging panel in its citation for the award said “CILEx
is the only route into the legal profession which is truly
open to all whatever their background. Going further in
this area, their new CILEx Tech Level 3 Diploma in Law
and Legal Skills launching this year is designed specifically
for 16–18 year olds, it will enable young people to
choose to study practical legal skills and knowledge and
gain valuable work experience that will allow them to
embark on a fulfilling career in law. The judges were impressed
with CILEx’s work in this area including publishing
member stats on background and diversity.”
On winning the award Mandie Lavin, CILEx chief executive
officer, said “It was a huge honour to be nominated
for this award and we are delighted to have won, particularly
given the strong competition. In accepting this
award, CILEx remains committed to actively promoting
social mobility and diversity within the law.” The
award was received by Martin Callan, CILEx vice-president
and Vicki Hurdley, CILEx director of sales and development.
If you are interested in joining the Manchester branch,
please email manchestercilex@outlook.com. The
branch regularly holds both CPD events and Social
events.
We are always looking for new ideas and events, if you
would like to get involved with the committee, please
get in touch.
The next CPD events will take place on 30 June 2016.
Please contact the branch for further information.
The branch will be holding its annual BBQ on 28 July
2016. Please contact the branch for further information.
Rachel Stevens
Chair