Member Article

London house prices fuel demand for conveyancing professionals across the South East as homebuyers desert the Capital

Vacancies for private practice lawyers across the South East have risen by 36% month-on-month according to new survey data from specialist recruiter, Clayton Legal. The firm believes the rise in advertised positions can largely be attributed to the high cost of buying property in London which has forced many buyers out to areas where property is more affordable. This, in turn, has resulted in increased demand for residential conveyancing professionals across the South East.

The survey, which was compiled based on the recruiter’s comprehensive data on advertised roles, reveals that residential conveyancing paralegals, assistants and solicitors have been the most sought after professionals. This is in keeping with Savills’ analysis of ONS and Land Registry figures which reveals that the number of people exiting the capital has hit a five-year high. The estate agent cites both St Albans and Slough as home county hotspots which are benefitting from outward migration from London due to swollen house prices – two areas where Clayton Legal has seen heightened demand for property experts in recent weeks.

Commenting on the results of the data, Lynn Sedgwick, Managing Director at Clayton Legal said:

“It’s perhaps unsurprising that vacancy levels in the region are rising – the Capital has long been unaffordable for many individuals to live and work in the City. Consequently many have moved out-either to get on the property ladder or to upsize – and purchased in towns with a manageable commute. This has resulted in law firms in the South East specialising in residential property increasingly needing to bolster their conveyancing teams. Consequently legal professionals in this area are not only highly sought after, but they are also able to command lucrative packages as firms grapple for the very best talent.”

Elsewhere across the South East, Clayton’s data reveals that solicitors and paralegals specialising in family law were also in demand across the region – an area that the recruitment consultancy has noted steady requirements for since the beginning of the year.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Clayton Recruitment .