Decide Whether to Use a Solicitor or Conveyancer

You are buying or selling and need someone to handle the legal side, but you are not sure whether that means a solicitor or a licensed conveyancer. This explains what each does, when the cheaper option is fine, and when the complications (leasehold, new build, a chain) mean you want a solicitor. You instruct the right one for your situation.

<context>
You are buying or selling a property and need to decide whether to instruct a solicitor or a licensed conveyancer to handle the legal work.
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<task>
**Work through the decision:**
1. Explain what each professional does: the legal qualifications and scope of work for a solicitor vs a licensed conveyancer
2. Assess when a solicitor is the better choice: the complexity factors (leasehold, new build, auction property, equity release) that warrant a solicitor
3. Assess when a conveyancer is the better choice: straightforward freehold transactions where specialist legal knowledge is unlikely to be needed
4. Consider cost and service quality: how to assess value rather than just price when getting quotes
5. Make a recommendation for your specific transaction type
</task>

<output_format>
- A plain-English comparison of both options
- A recommendation with the key reason based on your transaction type
- Three questions to ask when getting quotes
</output_format>