New MD of Convey Law looks forward to the challenges and opportunities of 2025
New Managing Director of Convey Law, Janine Wellington, is no stranger to a challenge, having worked as a specialist residential and commercial Conveyancer for over 25 years. Taking up the reigns as Managing Director and following in the footsteps of founder and MD for 20 years, Lloyd Davies, represents its own set of expectations and challenges. We asked Janine what the future holds for her and her team at Convey Law in 2025.
Work life balance is our mission
We all work so hard in conveyancing; it is vital that we look after each other and create the right work life balance. Providing a great working environment is a key driver for us. This requires trust – that we can all manage our time and work well for the company, at home or in work – our choice. We increased the holiday entitlement last year to 40 days, as feedback from everyone was that the highest salaries, bonus payments and benefits was great, so long as they could also enjoy spending time with those that they love. The balance is so very hard to manage in conveyancing, as our industry can be volatile and seasonal, and so good caseload management and holiday cover is essential. We have some way to go but we think we are getting there and together we will find the right balance.
Listening and adapting to feedback
We have a collaborative culture, where feedback is encouraged and where we look for the right solutions together. Recognising the increased workload per transaction and in reaction to Conveyancer feedback, we introduced Assistants for all Conveyancers last year, which freed our Conveyancers up to do what they are good at. Our Client Service and Conveyancer support teams are brilliant, and each Conveyancer enjoys specialist assistance with client onboarding, contract production, title checking and post completion. Our Conveyancing team excelled last year and achieved average transaction exchange times at 15 weeks – five weeks faster than the national average – and won the coveted Best National Conveyancer Service Award at the ESTAS in October last year.
Team empowerment is critical
Our Convey365 IT case management system is brilliant and is constantly being developed by our Conveyancers. Everyone at Convey Law is encouraged to provide feedback and to look at ways that we can improve how we work. The team have fully adopted the Kaizen self-improvement principals, which has led to significant positive change and the most fluid adoption of new processes and enhancements. It’s a really exciting time with our Conveyancers leading, identifying, implementing, and training the IT changes so that they are really practical, easily implemented and work a treat. It is such an empowering, purposeful, and collaborative way of working together.
Leadership and progress
It is perhaps unsurprising, in an industry dominated by women – 80% of our team are female at Convey Law – that we currently have an all-female Board of Directors for the first time. Convey Law was the first to be awarded GOLD investors in people accreditation ten years ago and has a very strong record of promoting from within, with individuals reacting really well to our clear career progression pathways. Everyone involved enjoyed our internal leadership and management training last year and the results spoke for themselves, with Convey Law becoming one of the Best 100 UK Companies to work for, which was a truly amazing achievement.
Fun and being together
We are flexible in the way that we work but we have found that working as teams, in close and small cohorts, and in the office at times has worked really well. Our weekly “Happy Days” involve all staff within travelling distance attending at the office, enjoying training sessions, charity initiatives, walks and a little bit of work together. Wellbeing is about being a part of a team and working together towards a common purpose – providing great service and changing the way that we convey for the better – revolutionary conveyancing through Kaizen.
Engagement and recognition
Engaging with remote workers is critical and our internal internet – “The Exchange” – is our own social media platform. Quarterly “Convey Days” are planned for this year with everyone coming into the office for training, improvement workshops and company funded staff parties. Our 20-year Awards night celebration at Cardiff Museum in December was amazing and a really fantastic way to celebrate our successes and the great people that we work with. It was a truly great night – we actually took over the Marriot hotel for the night with 135 staff and guests partying until the early hours. We do love to party and to be together – its so important for us all.
Giving is good for the soul
Helping those that are less fortunate than us and charity fundraising is engrained in our culture – Convey Law is the leading charity fundraising legal practice in the UK. Our work with the Conveyancing Foundation over the last decade has been inspirational to us all. Working with the conveyancing industry and some truly great people and companies in raising over £1.2 million for charity, helping to galvanise wellbeing at work best practice and taking everyone forward together is just wonderful. We hope to be able to reach the £50K milestone in funds raised for Great Ormond Street hospital this month, through our clients engaging with the Conveyancing Foundation Charity Lotto – quite amazing!
The future
We will be challenging each other to change the way that we convey for the better, so that client service improves to what clients want and expect of us – a fast, easy, reassuring, safe and highly effective conveyancing service. Its going to be an exciting and rewarding journey with the team we have here and the culture that we are constantly looking to develop for the betterment of all. I am very much looking forward to the privilege and the challenges of leading Team Convey Law as Manging Director – bring it on!
January 13, 2025