About

Our founder, Maria, is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Legal Executives and a Licensed Conveyancer and has over 25 years’ experience practising in the largest firms in the Southwest and more recently as a Consultant.

Maria brings a wealth of experience from her extensive career in legal management roles before transitioning to consultancy. She has served as a partner, Head of the Later Living Conveyancing team, Head of Department, and Money Laundering Officer. Additionally, Maria was the in-house training manager for a large firm for many years. In this role, she not only conducted in-house training but also guided individuals in selecting the right external qualifications based on their career paths, learning styles, and fit within the firm.

Additionally, Maria became a qualified teacher in 2005 after attaining various educational qualifications. Over the past 20 years, she has collaborated with numerous institutes and regulators, contributing to the development of entire courses and individual modules. Maria has tutored students both online and in face-to-face settings, and has assessed and moderated exams and assessments. Furthermore, she has served on a board of examiners for 15 years.

Albert Einstein said “wisdom is not a product of schooling, but of the lifelong attempt to acquire it”.  Maria is passionate about the quality of education, and in particular, that of the conveyancing industry.  Maria’s motto is ‘every day is a learning day’.  Maria formed The Conveyancing College so that secretaries, lawyers, estate agents and anyone else interested in the sector has access to quality materials.

Maria’s tutoring experience spans from legal secretary courses to graduate and postgraduate levels across all areas of law. She takes pride in having helped over 7,000 students achieve legal qualifications at various levels throughout her career.

For 18 years, Maria has balanced a full-time career as a lawyer with 15-20 hours a week as a law tutor, author and examiner, giving her a deep understanding of both the legal and educational systems. This unique experience is what sets the Conveyancing College apart as a niche training academy. Maria has observed that while exam success demonstrates understanding, it doesn’t always translate to practical skills. Our courses are specifically designed to bridge this gap, enhancing your productivity, performance, and overall skill set.

“As a Cornish maid, it is only fitting that I use an ocean analogy.  Conveyancers often lose sight of what they set out to achieve, having been consumed with navigating the rough seas of challenges that seem to occur once in every ninth wave. Estate rent charges, Building Safety Act, indemnity insurances for every eventuality, and a cyberattack thrown in for good measure!  The formation of a natural pearl is a rare occurrence – with only one in roughly 10,000 oysters producing one over several years. My journey may feel that I have dedicated myself to alchemizing hardships into grit and grace, however in reality a pearl of wisdom was slowly being created.  I never lost sight of my horizon; my love of law, clients, team, peers and students, all of which I hope will one day find their own pearl and I am proud to be a role model to them.”

Petra has over 35 years of experience in conveyancing.  She commenced her career as an Assistant to a partner and within 2 years gained control her files in her own right to become a stand-alone fee earner.  Petra was head of conveyancing responsible for several fee earners and support staff.  During the movement of Home Information Packs in the early century, Petra formed a company and as one of the directors offering an online system to solicitors and estate agents.  Petra and her husband have also run a successful property portfolio with 55 rental units and 80 tenants and therefore Petra has experience form all angles of the property industry which helps her to understand the perspective from the lawyer, the agent and the client.

Petra’s strong communication skills enable her to effectively convey complex legal information to clients and colleagues, fostering clear understanding and collaboration. These combined strengths not only improve individual performance but also contribute significantly to the overall success and innovation within a legal team. In her role in the Conveyancing College, Petra shares how lawyers and agents can achieve this.

“Effective communication is the bridge between confusion and clarity, and as a lawyer, you build that bridge every day.”

Jo has 25 years of experience as a Paralegal and has worked in one of the largest law firms in the South West.  Jo’s strengths in technology, organization, and communication are invaluable assets in the legal sector. Her proficiency with technology allows her to efficiently manage and streamline legal processes, utilizing tools such as case management systems and digital contracts to enhance productivity and accuracy. Being highly organized ensures that she can handle complex legal documents and deadlines with ease, maintaining a structured workflow that minimizes errors and maximizes efficiency.

What sets Jo apart is her willingness to share her expertise with others. She regularly conducts training sessions for new staff, offering valuable tips on time management, effective communication, and the use of office technology. Her approachable nature and dedication to helping others improve make her an invaluable asset to our team.  This makes Jo a perfect fit for our Legal Secretary Course.

“Embracing technology in the legal field isn’t just about efficiency; it’s about transforming the way we deliver justice and serve our clients.”