Do I need a lawyer to do my conveyancing?

No, you do not need a lawyer to do your conveyancing in most States, but there is definite value for money in using a conveyancing lawyer for your conveyance. Whilst most conveyancing contracts are standard carbon copies of each other, what you need to look out for is when they become non-standard. If you are not buying or selling property for a living, you will not be able to tell whether something is usual or unusual. It is your conveyancing lawyer’s job to help you identify what is out of the ordinary and propose terms and conditions to be negotiated into the contract to protect your best interest.

Queensland is one of the only States in Australia that requires a lawyer to complete any work on a conveyance. This has the benefit that you will always have the advantage of obtaining legal advice outside the standard terms of the Contract when you need it, and most fixed fees will include provision for legal advice. It is important however that you carefully consider the terms and conditions of quotes you obtain. Often basic fee quotes for a conveyance that appear cheap will have many hidden costs on matters that are beyond your control to prevent and would generally be included in other quotes. It is important that you do not just pick what appears cheapest, but look at the whole picture and make sure you quote includes the work that you do not want to pay extra for.