Case Study: Dezrezlegal
Now, Gareth is repeating history by developing his own pipeline of trained conveyancers within his growing firm. In the last year alone, three team members have embarked on the CLC learning route, with one already fully qualified. “Sara came to us with a law degree, then had a break from education to raise her family,” Gareth says. “The CLC pathway, supported by funding from the Personal Learning Account in Wales, allowed her to step back into law and become a Licensed Conveyancer. Without that support, it simply wouldn’t have been possible.”

An accessible and rewarding career path
CLC qualifications offer firms like Dezrezlegal far more than individual success stories.
Gareth is clear: “The more qualified individuals you have, the lower your risk profile to mortgage lenders and insurers and the broader the lender panels you can access.” This makes having CLC-qualified professionals not just a ‘nice to have’, but a commercial necessity, especially in a competitive housing market.

There’s also the practical reality that the conveyancing profession is under increasing regulatory and client service pressure. “Conveyancing is becoming more complex than ever,” Gareth says. “There’s now more red tape, more due diligence, and more verification checks.
You need people who are formally qualified and understand the legal and practical sides of the job.”

One of the standout features of the CLC route is its accessibility. The CLC Technician and CLC Lawyer programmes allow learners to train while they earn, with flexible, distance-based learning supported by training providers. For firms, this offers a structured way to develop staff who may not have had access to a university education, or who are looking for a practical, debt-free route into law.

“In our experience, the best conveyancers often come from customer service roles,” Gareth notes. “They know how to talk to clients, manage expectations, show empathy and handle pressure. If we can back that with a formal CLC qualification, we end up with brilliant professionals who are completely committed to the job.”

This approach is working. Dezrezlegal has doubled in size over the past few years, and now has over 50 staff and is increasing its partnerships with valued introducers to secure greater levels of work. “We promote from within,” Gareth says. “We take people from administrative support roles, move them into training, and help them gain their licence. It’s sustainable, scalable, and hugely rewarding for everyone involved.”

Welsh funding gap
However, while Gareth is a vocal advocate for the CLC route, he’s also candid about the challenges faced by firms in Wales. “There just isn’t the same level of funding available here as there is in England,” he says. “It’s incredibly frustrating. We have a thriving conveyancing community in South Wales that’s crying out for this kind of support.”

The Personal Learning Account (PLA) programme has helped some employees, but recent changes mean it is no longer available. An issue the CLC is lobbying on with Gareth’s full support. “Employers alone can’t drive this. We need the regulator, training providers, and government working together to create accessible, funded routes into this profession. The demand is here, the talent is here, we just need the infrastructure to support it.”

As more firms recognise the business and social value of growing their own talent through the CLC route, stories like Gareth’s highlight what’s possible and what’s at risk if support isn’t expanded. Licensed Conveyancers are property law specialists, offering focused, highly skilled service in one of the most important legal areas in most people’s lives. Their training deserves recognition—and investment—across every part of the UK.