Can You Become a Conveyancer in Queensland or ACT?

Why Queensland and the ACT are different

In Queensland (Qld) and the Australian Capital Territory (ACT), conveyancing is classified as legal work rather than a separate licensed profession.
This means only an Australian legal practitioner (ie. a solicitor) may provide conveyancing services directly to the public. However, and this is the key point, the solicitor does not usually do all the work personally.
Instead, most of the day-to-day conveyancing tasks are performed by trained staff working under the solicitor’s supervision.

Can you still work as a conveyancer?

Yes.
Many people work in conveyancing roles in Queensland and the ACT without being lawyers.

Common job titles include:

• Conveyancing Assistant
• Conveyancing Officer
• Property Law Clerk
• Conveyancing Paralegal
• Settlements Officer

In many law firms, the trained conveyancing staff manage files from start to finish, while the supervising solicitor reviews and signs off on legal responsibility.
So while you cannot run your own independent conveyancing practice, you can absolutely build a long-term career in the profession.

What work do conveyancing staff actually do?

Conveyancing employees typically handle:

• preparing and reviewing contracts
• ordering property searches
• liaising with banks and real estate agents
• calculating settlement adjustments
• preparing transfer documents
• organising electronic settlement
• communicating with buyers and sellers
• managing deadlines

Modern conveyancing also includes electronic settlements using platforms such as PEXA and digital identity verification.

Queensland conveyancing rules

In Queensland, conveyancing services are regulated under the legal profession framework. Only solicitors may offer conveyancing services to the public as a business. This means:

• you cannot open your own conveyancing company
• you cannot charge clients independently
• you must work within a law practice

However, law firms actively employ trained conveyancing staff because solicitors rely on them to manage transactions efficiently.
For this reason, employers commonly prefer applicants who hold a recognised conveyancing qualification and understand settlement procedures.

ACT conveyancing rules

The ACT operates under a similar model. Conveyancing is considered a legal service and is supervised by legal practitioners. Only a solicitor may formally provide the service to clients, but non-lawyers perform much of the practical work.
Most Canberra law firms have dedicated conveyancing teams consisting of paralegals or conveyancing officers who manage settlements and client communication.

Do you still need a conveyancing qualification?

While there is no licence application in Queensland or the ACT, employers still expect proper training. Law firms generally look for people who already understand:

• contracts of sale
• settlement procedures
• title searches
• deadlines and adjustments
• electronic settlement systems (PEXA)
• client communication

This is why the Advanced Diploma of Conveyancing is still widely valued in these states — it functions as industry training rather than a licence pathway.

Typical career progression

A common pathway in Queensland and the ACT looks like:

Conveyancing Assistant
→ Conveyancing Officer
→ Senior Conveyancer / Paralegal
→ Practice Manager

Many professionals remain in these roles long-term and do not need to become solicitors. Some actually prefer this pathway because it avoids professional indemnity risk, trust account management and business compliance obligations.

Does the qualification still lead to employment?

Yes. The qualification prepares you for employment within a legal practice rather than immediate independent licensing.

In fact, some students specifically choose this pathway because they want:

• stable employment
• a professional office role
• no responsibility for operating a business

What if you later want to run your own practice?

Many people begin their careers working in law firms to gain experience. Later, some relocate to a state such as Victoria or New South Wales where independent conveyancer licensing is available and then apply for a licence using their qualification and experience.

Final thoughts

Conveyancing remains a viable career in every Australian state. The only difference is how it is regulated.
In Victoria and NSW you may operate your own conveyancing business.
In Queensland and the ACT you work within a legal practice under a supervising solicitor.

Either way, the day-to-day work, managing property transactions and helping clients through settlement — is very similar.