Support the Authorised Person in dealing with legal matters relating to the transfer of ownership of land or property from a seller to a buyer.
Apprentices learn to support qualified solicitors and licensed conveyancers throughout the property transfer process, from initial instruction through to completion. This includes understanding land law, title investigation, searches, contract preparation, and post-completion registration with HM Land Registry. Apprentices also develop skills in client communication, file management, and compliance with anti-money laundering regulations. The standard is available in two pathways, conveyancing technician and probate technician, so the content is tailored to whichever specialism the employer and apprentice select.
Week to week, a conveyancing technician apprentice typically drafts correspondence, orders local authority and environmental searches, reviews title documents, and prepares completion statements. They liaise with clients, estate agents, mortgage lenders, and the other party's solicitors to move transactions forward. Probate technician apprentices focus on gathering estate assets, corresponding with beneficiaries, and preparing inheritance tax forms. Both pathways involve maintaining accurate case management records and meeting regulatory deadlines under supervision.
Completing this apprenticeship prepares candidates for technician-level roles in law firms, licensed conveyancing practices, and in-house legal teams at property developers, housing associations, or financial institutions. Common job titles include conveyancing technician, probate technician, or fee-earner assistant. From here, many progress to qualify as licensed conveyancers through the Council for Licensed Conveyancers, or continue into paralegal and legal executive roles. The qualification sits at level 4, making it a solid foundation for further professional qualifications in property or private client law.
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Completers typically move into Conveyancing Technician or Probate Technician roles, working under the supervision of a solicitor or licensed conveyancer. Day-to-day responsibilities include drafting transfer documents, managing client correspondence, conducting searches, and progressing transactions from instruction through to completion. Some completers take on a Paralegal title within a conveyancing or private client team, depending on how the firm structures its support staff.
Within three to five years, many technicians move into a Senior Conveyancing Technician or Senior Paralegal position, taking on more complex caseloads with less direct supervision. From there, two tracks tend to open up: a leadership route into Team Leader or Practice Manager roles overseeing support staff and workflow, or a technical specialist route involving qualification as a Licensed Conveyancer through the Council for Licensed Conveyancers, or as a solicitor via the Solicitors Qualifying Examination.
Most hiring comes from solicitors' practices ranging from high-street firms handling residential property and estate work to larger regional practices with dedicated conveyancing departments. Licensed conveyancer firms, which operate outside traditional law firms, are also significant employers. Beyond private practice, housing associations, local authorities, and property developers employ conveyancing support staff in-house. The work is spread across England and Wales, with demand tied closely to residential property transaction volumes.
Throughout the apprenticeship, learners build competence in legal and procedural work while employed in a conveyancing or probate setting. Learning happens on the job, supported by a training provider. Before final assessment can take place, both the employer and training provider must confirm the apprentice has reached the required level of knowledge, skills and behaviours, a checkpoint commonly referred to as the gateway. Final assessment then confirms the apprentice can carry out the role to the standard required. Assessment arrangements for many standards are currently being updated, so check the gov.uk page for this standard for the current specification.
Building a strong record of workplace activity from the start of the apprenticeship makes the final stages significantly less stressful. Learners should keep detailed notes of cases, tasks and decisions they have supported throughout their time in the role, rather than trying to reconstruct evidence later. Regular conversations with both the employer and training provider, to track progress against the knowledge, skills and behaviours set out in the standard, help ensure there are no surprises when gateway approaches. Consistent record-keeping across the full programme is the most practical way to demonstrate genuine competence.
Look for providers with an achievement rate above 65% on their FATP profile, and check whether employer and apprentice satisfaction scores are both above 80%. For this standard, the relevant signal is whether the provider has active relationships with law firms, licensed conveyancers, or probate practitioners, not just generic legal sector experience. Tutors and assessors should have current or recent hands-on experience in conveyancing or probate work. Ask whether the curriculum covers HM Land Registry processes, Stamp Duty Land Tax, and the probate application process in practical depth, not just at a theoretical level.
Be cautious of providers with large cohort numbers but a declining or borderline achievement rate, which can indicate poor learner support once enrolment numbers grow. Providers who can't clearly separate their conveyancing and probate pathways, or who treat both as essentially the same programme, may lack the specialist depth either route needs. If assessors have no direct background in residential conveyancing or estate administration, that is worth probing. Vague answers about how End Point Assessment is prepared for, or no visibility of past learner outcomes in similar roles, are both worth taking seriously.
There are no nationally mandated entry qualifications, so employers set their own criteria. Most look for GCSEs in English and Maths at grade 4 or above, or equivalent. Some employers accept candidates with legal work experience in lieu of formal qualifications. Apprentices must be employed in a relevant role, such as a conveyancing or probate support position, throughout the programme. Any prior learning may need to be assessed to ensure the apprenticeship provides genuine new learning.
Apprentices remain employed throughout and learn on the job, applying skills directly to real conveyancing or probate files. A portion of paid time is dedicated to off-the-job training, such as study days, workshops, or guided learning. The specific minimum duration and off-the-job training requirements are subject to revision under current Skills England reforms, so check the current specification on the Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education website at gov.uk before planning a start date.
Apprentices must reach a gateway point before being entered for end-point assessment. At gateway, employers and training providers confirm the apprentice has the knowledge, skills, and behaviours set out in the standard. The end-point assessment typically tests competence through methods such as a portfolio review, professional discussion, or practical assessment. Assessment models for many standards are under review, so check the current specification on gov.uk to confirm the exact assessment approach for this standard.
The funding band for this standard is £10,000, which is the maximum government contribution towards training costs. Levy-paying employers draw training costs from their digital apprenticeship service account. Non-levy employers pay a 5% co-investment contribution, with the government funding the remaining 95%. Employers with fewer than 50 employees who take on an apprentice aged 16 to 18 pay nothing, as the government covers the full cost. Salary remains the employer's responsibility.
Day-to-day work involves supporting a qualified, authorised person on conveyancing or probate matters. In conveyancing, that means tasks such as preparing contract packs, carrying out property searches, liaising with clients and solicitors, and processing Land Registry applications. In probate, it covers assisting with estate administration, preparing inheritance tax forms, and corresponding with beneficiaries and financial institutions. Apprentices handle real files under supervision, building technical knowledge of legal processes and professional conduct requirements.
Completion demonstrates competence at a technical level in conveyancing or probate work and can support progression to a senior fee-earning or supervisory role within a law firm or licenced conveyancing practice. Some apprentices go on to study for the Chartered Institute of Legal Executives fellowship, a solicitor apprenticeship, or the Council for Licensed Conveyancers qualification. The apprenticeship also provides a strong foundation for those who want to become an authorised person in their own right over time.
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Curated by Alex Lockey, FATP founder and editor. Last reviewed: .
Sources include the apprenticeship's official specification on apprenticeships.gov.uk, Skills England guidance, IfATE archive records, DWP funding bands, and provider data sourced directly from the public Apprenticeship Provider and Assessment Register (APAR). Standard reference: 749.
Some sections on this page were drafted with AI assistance from published source data and reviewed by a human editor before publication. See our editorial methodology for how we maintain this content. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.