If you are buying or selling property in NSW, at some point someone will ask you whether you have a conveyancer or a solicitor lined up. And if you have not thought about it yet, you might assume they are basically the same thing with a different job title.
They are not, and the difference matters more in some situations than others.
Both can handle your property transaction legally. Both will review contracts, order title searches, and get you to settlement. But their qualifications, scope, and the kinds of problems they can help you with are different. Getting the right one for your situation from the start saves you time, money, and the hassle of having to bring in someone else halfway through.
What a Licensed Conveyancer Actually Does
A licensed conveyancer in NSW is a property law specialist. We are regulated under the Conveyancers Licensing Act 2003 and licensed through NSW Fair Trading. Property transactions are all we do. Not wills, not business contracts, not family law. Just property.
That focus means we know the process in detail. We have seen the same issues come up hundreds of times across different transactions: sunset clauses in off-the-plan contracts that buyers do not notice until it is too late, easements on title that affect what you can build, strata by-laws that restrict renovations or pet ownership in ways that matter to how someone actually wants to live in a property. When you work with someone who handles these things every day, those issues get picked up early.
In a standard transaction, here is what we handle: reviewing the contract before you sign, conducting title searches to check for restrictions or encumbrances, preparing and exchanging contracts, coordinating settlement through PEXA, and lodging all the paperwork with NSW Land Registry Services. For most buyers and sellers in NSW, that covers everything they need.
Where it stops is legal advice outside property law. If your situation involves a family law settlement, a trust structure, tax advice, or anything that would require a lawyer across a different area of law, that falls outside what a conveyancer can do. We will tell you that clearly if it comes up, and we will point you in the right direction.
What a Solicitor Does Differently
A solicitor is a fully admitted lawyer regulated by the Law Society of NSW. They can handle property transactions the same way a conveyancer can, but their scope does not stop there. If your property purchase or sale is connected to other legal matters, a solicitor can advise across all of them.
That broader scope is genuinely useful in the right situations. It is less relevant if your transaction is straightforward. The other thing worth knowing is that solicitors with general practices may not handle conveyancing as frequently as a specialist does. That is not a reason to avoid them, but it is worth asking about their volume of property work when you are deciding.
When the Choice Actually Matters
For a standard residential purchase or sale in NSW with a clear title and no other legal threads running through it, a licensed conveyancer is the right fit. It is what we do every day, the fees are typically lower than solicitor rates, and the process tends to move efficiently.
Where it gets more nuanced is when the property transaction is connected to something else legally. A few situations we see regularly where we either refer clients to a solicitor or work alongside one:
A deceased estate where there is disagreement between beneficiaries about the sale. The conveyancing side is manageable, but the dispute about who gets what requires a solicitor.
A property transfer between family members following a relationship breakdown. Preparing the transfer documents is within our scope. The family law agreement that sits behind it is not.
A first-time buyer purchasing in their own name who later realises they should have bought through a company or trust for asset protection reasons. The conveyancing is done, but restructuring after the fact involves legal and tax advice that needs a solicitor and potentially an accountant.
In those cases you will often end up working with both. The solicitor handles the legal complexity and either refers the conveyancing to us or takes it on themselves. Either way, the earlier you get clarity on what your transaction involves, the smoother it goes.
Questions Worth Asking Yourself Before You Decide
Is the transaction straightforward? Standard purchase price, clear title, no disputes, no trust or company structures involved?
Does anything else connect to this property legally? A relationship breakdown, an estate, a business agreement, a caveat already on the title?
Do you want someone who focuses solely on property law, or someone who can pivot to other legal areas if something unexpected comes up during the process?
If the answers point to a simple transaction, a licensed conveyancer is likely all you need. If there are other legal considerations in the mix, start the conversation with a solicitor and let them tell you whether you need both.
A Note on Cost
Conveyancers generally charge fixed fees for standard transactions, and those fees tend to be lower than solicitor rates. That gap narrows or disappears if your matter is complex, because complexity takes time regardless of who handles it. The point is not to choose based on cost alone. Choose based on what your situation actually requires, and the cost will make sense from there.
How We Work at Strictly Conveyancing
We work with clients across NSW on residential and commercial property transactions. For straightforward matters we handle everything from the first contract review through to settlement and beyond. We explain what is happening at each stage in plain language, not legal language, because most people buying or selling property are not doing it every day and should not have to decode their own transaction.
When something comes up that is outside property law, we say so. We would rather refer you to the right person early than let a complication grow into a bigger problem later.
If you are not sure whether you need a conveyancer or a solicitor for your situation, get in touch. We will give you a straight answer.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it cheaper to use a conveyancer than a solicitor?
Generally yes. Licensed conveyancers typically charge fixed fees for standard transactions and those fees are usually lower than solicitor rates. For a straightforward purchase or sale in NSW, a conveyancer is usually the more cost-effective option. If your matter involves legal complexity beyond property law, a solicitor’s higher rate is usually justified by the additional scope of work involved.
Can a conveyancer give legal advice?
A licensed conveyancer can advise you on anything within property law. That includes contract terms, title issues, settlement processes, and anything else directly related to your transaction. What falls outside our scope is advice on family law, business structures, estate planning, court disputes, or other areas of law. If your question crosses into those areas, you need a solicitor.
What happens if a problem comes up mid-transaction?
It depends on the nature of the problem. Issues within the transaction itself, such as a title defect, a contract dispute, or a settlement delay, are within a conveyancer’s scope to manage. If the problem requires court action or involves another area of law, a solicitor needs to be involved. A good conveyancer will flag that early rather than wait for it to become urgent.
Do I need a conveyancer if I already have a solicitor handling my matter?
Not necessarily. A solicitor can handle the conveyancing directly. Some clients use a solicitor for the broader legal complexity and a separate conveyancer for the property work itself. It depends on your solicitor’s preference and what makes sense for your situation.
