According to the latest data from the Law Society, the number of Conveyancers in England and Wales has dropped from just over 13,000 to 11,140 between September 2021 and January 2025. This points to a wider trend across the entire conveyancing profession, regardless of qualification route. 

Whether a professional has trained as a solicitor, a licensed conveyancer (regulated by the CLC), or as a Chartered Legal Executive (via CILEx), each plays a vital role in meeting the growing demands of the UK property market. It’s a diverse and highly skilled sector, and any AI tools designed to support it must respect and reflect that diversity of expertise. 

The Shrinking Workforce & Increased Demand 

Fewer qualified professionals across the board, whether solicitor, licensed conveyancer, or legal executive, means firms are expected to do more with fewer resources. This has led to increased transaction delays and concerns about burnout within the profession. Clients, however, now expect more from the process; more clarity, more communication, faster and seamless customer service, placing additional strain on conveyancers.  

This situation presents an opportunity for new technology to enter the process and ease the burden. Advancements in Generative AI (Gen AI) have introduced new opportunities to play such as role and improve efficiencies. However, the role of AI in conveyancing is not about replacement—it’s about augmentation. 

AI as an Assistant, Not a Decision-Maker 

AI has made significant advancements in processing, analysing, and generating legal documents. Tools powered by Neural Language Models (NLMs) can now assist with: 

  • Document review & summarisation – Automating the extraction of key information from lengthy contracts. 
  • Drafting standard legal documents – Reducing time spent on routine paperwork. 
  • Managing compliance checks – Flagging inconsistencies or missing information. 

However, these capabilities do not replace human expertise. AI may predict the next best word, phrase, or outcome, but it does not understand the full complexity of legal nuances, client relationships, or risk factors. All conveyancing professionals, regardless of qualification route, bring critical thinking and professional judgment, qualities that AI cannot replicate. 

A Shift in the Role of the Conveyancer 

Rather than making up the short fall in the volume of conveyancers, AI is shifting the responsibilities. By reducing administrative work, professionals can dedicate more time to: 

  • Client relationships – Offering tailored advice and reassurance. 
  • Complex problem-solving – Navigating disputes and legal intricacies. 
  • Strategic decision-making – Managing risk and ensuring compliance. 

Training AI with Human Expertise 

In a previous blog published by Collaborative Conveyancing, we’ve talked about how the key differentiator in our product’s success has been the role of experienced conveyancers in training our AI. Our experts have guided the AI, ensuring that it recognises what to look for in legal documents while also respecting the nuances of professional decision-making. 

The Future: AI-Enabled, Human-Led Conveyancing 

The future of conveyancing is not AI vs. humans, it’s AI working with humans. Firms that leverage AI to handle repetitive tasks will free up professionals to focus on high-value, client-facing work. As AI continues to evolve, the most successful firms will be those that adopt a hybrid model, balancing efficiency with expertise. 

AI is not here to take over conveyancing. It is here to empower conveyancers and save them administrative time, freeing them up to ensure they can meet the demands of a changing industry while maintaining the highest standards of service.