Conveyancers have been urged not to focus on competing with technology in the future but to build on the technological solutions in order to secure their place within the market.

The message came from professor Richard Susskind OBE (pictured), speaking at this year’s Conveyancing Association Annual Conference held at the Leonardo Royal Hotel in the City of London.

Under the title ‘Change is Coming’, the 2023 conference covered a range of themes focused on the future of the conveyancing industry in respect of regulation, technology, process and consolidation.

Introduced by CA non-executive chair Nicky Heathcote, with panel sessions chaired by conference chair Eddie Goldsmith and CA director of delivery Beth Rudolf, the conference agenda sought to provide delegates with information on what was coming down the track in the form of upfront information, digital services and artificial intelligence (AI), as well as political and regulatory measures.

Delegates heard from representatives from the CLC, Legal Services Board and SRA on regulatory developments, and from Thomas Legal, Simplify and O’Neill Patient on the likelihood of further consolidation in the industry.

There was also a presentation from conference headline sponsors LMS on the most up to date transaction data and the deployment of AI though generative pre-trained transformer GPTChat.

Delegates heard from a range of technology/information providers on what might determine the next seven years of the 2020s for conveyancers and how the process might shift as a result of the greater use of technology within conveyancing. 

Heathcote said: “As we anticipated when putting the agenda together for the 2023 conference, the day itself provided plenty of thought-provoking content, particularly in terms of technology and how it is likely to change the future of conveyancing. 

“It was also important for us to provide delegates and firms with information on what is coming down the tracks, their future responsibilities, how they might react to this change, and what can be done to ensure they continue to work efficiently and profitably in the future.

“Understandably, there was a lot to take in, and what we plan to do at the CA now is build on the conference content and work with member firms to ensure they are fully aware of these changes, how they can meet the future challenges they will bring and maximise the opportunities they offer.”