The Law Society has launched a conveyancing quality scheme (CQS) designed to give clients a recognisable quality mark for firms providing a high standard of service.

The scheme is based on a new Law Society transaction protocol, which will introduce consistent standards to speed up the conveyancing process and give more certainty to buyers and sellers.

The quality mark will be awarded to member firms in recognition of the high quality of service and advice they provide. Solicitors will pay a fee to be part of the scheme, which will go live in January 2011. It has been supported by the Council of Mortgage Lenders, the Building Societies Association and the Association of British Insurers. 

Launching the accreditation scheme at the Society’s property section’s annual conference this week, Law Society president Linda Lee said high-quality conveyancing practices have never had the opportunity to be recognised for their work. She said: ‘The CQS will give homebuyers an instantly recognisable quality mark highlighting a firm’s professional excellence and their commitment to providing a high quality service.

‘The accreditation will allow consumers to identify quality conveyancing practices in a crowded and sometimes confusing market.’