Since CQS launched at the beginning of the year the Law Society has received 1229 applications from solicitors’ firms seeking to join the scheme, which recognises high standards in residential conveyancing.
The Law Society had originally envisaged an end-of-year target of 600 firms, but CQS looks set to go well beyond that number by end of 2011.
Todmans SRE Partner William Todman said: “We’re delighted to be the 500th firm to achieve CQS accreditation. The standard sends out a clear message to the public that they can expect a high quality service from CQS firms.
"For the first time, it gives people a way to distinguish between the many firms providing conveyancing services. It enables them to choose a firm which will give them excellent advice and good value for money in making the important decision to buy or sell a house or flat. We are very pleased to be part of this initiative by the Law Society.”
Law Society chief executive Desmond Hudson said: “We are seeing applications to join the scheme rising on a daily basis. Reaching this milestone by the end of August illustrates how quickly CQS has become a feature on the home-buying landscape.
“There have been encouraging signs of support for the scheme from the mortgage lending industry, as well as the insurance industry, but most encouraging of all is the recognition from the public of the scheme. We have strong statistical evidence from our current marketing campaign to show the public is actively seeking our CQS firms.”
The CQS scheme requires practices to undergo a strict assessment, compulsory training, self reporting, random audits and annual reviews in order to maintain CQS status. It is open only open to practices regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority and to those who meet the demanding standards the scheme will set and has the support of the Council of Mortgage Lenders, Land Registry, the Building Societies Association, Legal Ombudsman and the Association of British Insurers.
