The Law Society has warned conveyancing firms seeking to join its Conveyancing Quality Scheme (CQS) not to incur unnecessary costs by hiring unauthorised risk and compliance consultants to help with their applications.

The CQS has received 633 applications from firms since the scheme’s launch in January and 21 have been accredited.

Solicitors have reported to the Law Society that they have received unsolicited letters from risk and compliance consultants offering to help them with their applications and carry out audits and other services.

Chancery Lane said these consultants had not been authorised by the Law Society. It added that while there is nothing to stop firms engaging their services, firms could be incurring unnecessary costs by doing so.

A Law Society spokesman said that only the Law Society’s own internal CQS assessors had detailed knowledge of the scheme and its risk score process.

He said the Society is due to publish a CQS toolkit to help firms looking to apply for the scheme, and a videocast on how to complete the application will be posted on the Society’s website later this week.

Guidance on the scheme is available on the Law Society website, or firms can call the CQS helpline on 020 7316 5550, or email CQS@lawsociety.org.uk.