Too complex and long – conveyancers condemn Law Society form


McWilliams: Law Society should have listened from the start

Conveyancers have told the Law Society that its controversial new TA6 property information form is too complex and too long, it revealed yesterday.

The society said it received over 1,200 responses to its belated consultation on the fifth iteration of the form, while its most trenchant critics continue to call for chief executive Ian Jeffery’s head.

Last June, following a backlash from practitioners, the Law Society admitted that it should have consulted conveyancers before introducing the new versions of TA6 and TA7 (for leaseholds) in March and delayed their compulsory use by members of the Conveyancing Quality Scheme.

It commissioned global market research company CV2 to carry out “member engagement exercises”, including an online survey, focus groups and webinars, which concluded last month. CV2 also spoke to government agencies, form providers, licensed conveyancers and estate agents.

The society said they were now “carefully” analysing the findings to improve the form and explanatory notes.

While it has not detailed what the findings were, “some of the specific areas of concern” included the form’s complexity and length, difficulty with specific questions, and a desire for training and resources for both conveyancers and sellers.

“Together we will develop a process that is as straightforward as possible for solicitors and clients,” it pledged. “We will clearly communicate any changes being made to the TA6, including why changes are happening.”

The society also committed to an implementation period, “clear guidance notes and training for conveyancers and clients”, and user testing.

In the meantime, solicitors can continue to use either with new or old edition of the form.

The furore over the form led to the Property Lawyers Action Group – now renamed the Property Lawyers Alliance (PLA) – to requisition a special general meeting of the Law Society, although its motion of no confidence in Chancery Lane’s leadership was ultimately defeated.

Last autumn, the PLA urged the Law Society to withdraw the new form, citing one of the consultation sessions at which 80% of attendees said they intended to continue using the old form if they were allowed to.

“PLA members and the wider conveyancing community have put their faith in a genuine and open consultation undertaken by the Law Society,” it said in a letter to Mr Jeffery.

“The consultation has concluded, and the outcome is clear. We cannot, to quote the vernacular, continue ‘to kick the can down the road’ on this issue. Two versions of the TA6 have created uncertainty, which is detrimental to the profession’s reputation.

“So, we respectfully call on the Law Society to withdraw the 5th edition, in line with the wishes of its members.”

Writing on LinkedIn yesterday, Colin McWilliams, the alliance’s co-chair, questioned how much the whole process had cost, given that the SGM alone was estimated to have cost £100,000.

“What has been ‘achieved’ as a result? The CEO has kept his job, commanding a salary higher than the Prime Minister.

“Had the Law Society simply listened to the feedback from conveyancers at the outset this could have been avoided. The Law Society spent hundreds of thousands of pounds of the profession’s money solely to avoid accountability and embarrassment.

“The CEO’s position is untenable and I find it incomprehensible that he has not resigned. The Law Society clearly has no respect for conveyancers.”




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