Reshaping conveyancing

Digitisation is reshaping conveyancing, whether we welcome it or not. Sonia McEntee says that we can be led by this change – or lead it

Technology has steadily transformed professional life – and conveyancing is no exception.

Few of us imagine that it would be possible, or desirable, to return to a paper-and-post-only based process. We know technology is most effective when it supports, rather than replaces, professional expertise.

Digitising legal work without the benefit of that legal knowledge and judgement won’t benefit either the profession or the public interest. The greatest value will be derived in combining technological innovation with solicitors’ experience and skills.

While much of what is done involves engagement with others, we can’t control when or how those stakeholders will move forward. It’s time for us to bring what we can control into the digital age, while developing a platform ready for further integration. 

The Law Society’s work on e-conveyancing first began in 2005 but has gathered major pace in recent years, fuelled by rising digital literacy, growing demand from clients, and Government moves to digitise the process.

By and for solicitors

The eConveyancing Platform under development by the Law Society is being designed by solicitors, for solicitors – combining practical legal expertise with modern technology. The benefits are readily identifiable:

• Standardising and automating time-consuming administrative tasks,
• One-time entry of information,
• Client onboarding,
• Single location for all relevant documents, and
• Ready access to templates and guidance notes with inbuilt prompts and flags.

It will transform contract preparation.

What has been built

The eConveyancing Platform has already been built to digitise client onboarding and pre-contract stages of the process.

Using the platform, clients can complete identity verification (IDV), apply qualified electronic signatures (QES), complete essential anti-money-laundering steps, and provide other relevant documents at their own pace, in their own time.

Solicitors review and approve documents through the platform and manage the pace of work, so that clients always know what’s needed from them.

Using the platform to reduce administrative tasks, minimise duplication, and provide greater visibility to clients will facilitate solicitors to spend more time on legal advice and client service.

But don’t just take our word for it. Colleagues who participated in a recent hands-on workshop shared overwhelmingly positive feedback.

When asked about the operational improvements it could deliver, 75% anticipated transformational or significant benefits, while a further 17% expected moderate improvements to their day-to-day work.

The key benefits highlighted were time savings and mitigating risk.

What’s to come

Two major areas where e-conveyancing can add further value are integration with case-management systems and managing contract exchange to completion through the same platform.

Work in these areas has also advanced considerably.

As with any significant profession-wide investment, members will have a direct say in the next stage of development. At this year’s Law Society AGM, the profession will be asked to approve further investment to enable the launch of the eConveyancing Platform in 2027.

The Law Society continues to engage actively, not only with practitioners in this development, but also key stakeholders, including financial institutions and regulatory bodies, to ensure that developments in e-conveyancing are future-proofed, secure, and aligned with the needs of solicitors and clients.

See for yourself

Ahead of that crucial decision for the profession, you can take the opportunity to see and experience the eConveyancing Platform for yourself at any of the upcoming online and in-person events.

We’re looking for your insights, feedback, and questions. To see what’s happening, learn more, and to register to attend, visit lawsociety.ie/ econveyancing.

Engaging with the project now, and supporting the next phase of development at the AGM, will help shape an electronic conveyancing system that reflects the needs of the profession, supports clients, and safeguards standards for years to come.

Sonia McEntee is a member of the Council of the Law Society and is chair of the Law Society’s eConveyancing Subcommittee.

Register now for a series of online and in-person events to get an up-close view of the eConveyancing Platform:

• Wednesday 9 September: webinar demonstration and project update, 
• Thursday 10 September: in-person demonstration at the Law Society Well Within the Law Festival (East) in Dublin, and
• Wednesday 14 October: in-person demonstration at the Law Society Well Within the Law Festival (West) in Galway.

To learn more, book your place, or see upcoming events, visit lawsociety.ie/ econveyancing.