Head of Legal Practice

Head of Legal Practice (HoLP)

Location: Bromsgrove, Worcestershire (Office Based)
Salary: £70,000–£80,000 per annum (dependent on experience)
Hours: Full Time – 40 hours per week
Contract: Permanent
Reports to: Chief Executive Officer

About Chapter Law

Chapter Law is a CLC-regulated Alternative Business Structure specialising in residential conveyancing.

Property law is all we do. Based in the Midlands, we work with clients, estate agents, developers and mortgage brokers across England and Wales, providing a straightforward, proactive service from instruction through to completion.

We explain things clearly, keep clients informed and work closely with everyone involved to help transactions progress smoothly. As our business grows, we're looking to appoint a Head of Legal Practice to lead our legal function and ensure we continue to meet the highest professional and regulatory standards.

The Role

The Head of Legal Practice (HoLP) is Chapter Law's designated Approved Person under the Council for Licensed Conveyancers (CLC) regulatory framework.

Reporting to the Chief Executive Officer, and working closely with the Managing Director, Head of Finance & Administration (HoFA) and the wider leadership team, you will lead the legal function, fulfil the statutory responsibilities of the HoLP and oversee legal quality, governance, compliance and risk across the business.

This is a senior leadership role combining regulatory oversight with responsibility for developing people, improving processes and maintaining high standards of client service.

Key Responsibilities

Regulatory Leadership

• Act as the firm's approved Head of Legal Practice.
• Ensure compliance with the Legal Services Act 2007, the CLC Regulatory Arrangements and all applicable regulatory obligations.
• Maintain effective governance, supervision and risk management across the practice.
• Promote a culture of integrity, ethics and professional accountability.
• Report material breaches to the CLC where required.
• Act as the firm's principal contact during CLC inspections, audits and regulatory reviews.
• Ensure all regulatory notifications and returns are completed accurately and on time.

Legal Quality & Compliance

• Lead the firm's legal risk and compliance framework.
• Supervise lawyers and conveyancers to ensure consistently high standards of legal work.
• Provide technical guidance on complex residential conveyancing matters.
• Review high-risk or technically challenging transactions.
• Oversee complaints handling, file audits and quality assurance.
• Maintain compliance policies and procedures.
• Ensure compliance with AML, sanctions, source of funds, fraud prevention, lender panel requirements and cybersecurity obligations.
• Monitor regulatory developments and implement required changes.

Leadership & People

• Lead, mentor and develop the legal team.
• Recruit, retain and support high-performing legal professionals.
• Conduct performance and development reviews.
• Develop future leaders within the business.
• Foster a collaborative, accountable and supportive culture.

Operational Leadership

Working closely with the CEO, Managing Director and HoFA, you will:

• Improve legal processes and operational efficiency.
• Support the implementation of legal technology and automation.
• Monitor legal performance and operational KPIs.
• Ensure workloads remain appropriately managed while maintaining quality and compliance.
• Contribute to business planning, budgeting and resource management.

Client Service

• Champion high standards of client care.
• Resolve escalated complaints where appropriate.
• Review client feedback and identify opportunities for improvement.
• Protect and enhance the firm's reputation.

Essential Experience & Qualifications

Applicants must have:

• A minimum of five years' post-qualification experience.
• Qualification as a Licensed Conveyancer, Solicitor or FCILEx with appropriate conveyancing practice rights.
• Eligibility for approval by the Council for Licensed Conveyancers as Head of Legal Practice.
• Ability to satisfy the CLC's Fit and Proper Person requirements.
• Extensive residential conveyancing experience.
• Experience leading and supervising qualified legal professionals.
• Strong understanding of the CLC regulatory framework.
• Experience managing legal compliance and regulatory risk.
• Excellent technical knowledge of residential conveyancing.
• Strong commercial awareness.
• Excellent communication and leadership skills.
• High levels of integrity and professional judgement.

Desirable Experience

• Previous experience as a Head of Legal Practice.
• Experience within a CLC-regulated practice or Alternative Business Structure.
• Leading a residential conveyancing team of at least 15–20 fee earners.
• Overseeing more than 500 residential conveyancing transactions annually.
• Managing CLC inspections and regulatory reviews.
• Managing Professional Indemnity Insurance and insurer relationships.
• Managing lender panel relationships.
• Implementing legal technology, automation or AI.
• Designing operational processes and service improvements.
• Managing regulatory investigations, complaints or negligence claims.

Personal Attributes

We're looking for someone who is:

• Approachable and collaborative.
• Calm under pressure.
• Highly organised.
• Commercially aware.
• Pragmatic and solutions focused.
• Decisive and resilient.
• Committed to continuous improvement.
• Passionate about delivering excellent legal services.

Success Measures

Within your first 12 months you will have:

• Maintained full regulatory compliance.
• Delivered positive regulatory audit outcomes.
• Strengthened governance and risk management.
• Improved legal quality and operational performance.
• Developed a high-performing legal team.
• Enhanced client satisfaction.
• Supported the firm's sustainable growth.

Why Join Chapter Law?

This is an opportunity to join a growing Midlands-based law firm with a clear focus on residential conveyancing.

As Head of Legal Practice, you'll be a key member of the leadership team, combining the statutory responsibilities of the HoLP with responsibility for legal quality, compliance, people leadership and operational improvement. Working closely with the Chief Executive Officer, Managing Director and HoFA, you'll help shape the future development of the legal function while maintaining the high standards our clients, partners and regulator expect.

Regulatory Notice

This appointment is subject to approval by the Council for Licensed Conveyancers (CLC). The successful candidate must maintain their suitability to act as Head of Legal Practice throughout their appointment and comply with the CLC's Regulatory Arrangements.