Learning the Legal Landscape: A First-Year Student’s Insight into Conveyancing Practice

Having had a keen interest to understand how property law operates, I was eager to gain a practical insight into the work of a conveyancing department. Over the past 2 weeks, I have had the absolute privilege of joining the conveyancing department at Thomas Flavell & Sons, working under the supervision of Director Matthew Thom. What I encountered far surpassed any typical expectations I had previously held – I was trusted with real and meaningful tasks and offered ongoing support that helped turn unfamiliar concepts into practical understanding.

In my first week, I was immediately introduced into the workings of conveyancing. With guidance from Matthew and Estella, I tackled a range of client tasks including drafting leases, rent deposit deeds, CPSE3 and CPSE7 forms, client reports, letters and emails. Despite being a very packed day, it proved to be an invaluable building block for my confidence and skills in legal processes.

As the week progressed, I explored more specific matters such as overage deeds and adverse possession applications, created memos on potential legal claims and drafted documents for the purchase of unregistered land – an exercise that highlighted the continued relevance of paper-based records in modern conveyancing. Each task provided new opportunities to deepen my legal knowledge and sharpen my drafting abilities. 

The second week provided a deeper focus on leasehold matters. I reviewed both residential and commercial leases, assisted in preparing a lease of whole premises and created a certificate of compliance. I also completed an MR04 form for a business request, further expanding my exposure to corporate-related property transactions. Throughout the week, I came to appreciate the importance of structured legal research, attention to statutory detail, and the precision required in drafting documents that carry real-world implications. Every task contributed to a stronger understanding of how legal frameworks are applied in practice – and how essential collaboration and client care are in conveyancing.

I would like to extend my gratitude to the entire Thomas Flavell & Sons conveyancing team for their encouragement, kindness and professionalism throughout my time. It has truly been an honour to work alongside such a committed and welcoming group of professionals. 

In particular, I would like to express my deepest appreciation to Matthew Thom, Rachel Ley, Elizabeth Ashford and Estella Fox. Your guidance, patience and willingness to take time to explain tasks – no matter how many questions I asked – have been instrumental to my development. 

Thank you once again to everyone at Thomas Flavell & Sons Hinckley for making this experience both enriching and enjoyable!