Specialist residential conveyancing solicitors are among the businesses which have signed up to join the Conveyancing Association, a group of property lawyers and others working in the field who wish to present a united front to represent their members in the challenges their work faces.

The London-based organisation has come about as a direct result of some major mortgage lenders, particularly Lloyds TSB, restricting the number of firms on its conveyancing panels, a move which is likely to affect solicitors who do not handle large numbers of home sales and purchases, especially in the current market downturn.

Chairman of the Conveyancing Association Edward Goldsmith said businesses were at risk due to the change in lenders' arrangements.

He added that the new Legal Services Act - the so-called Tesco law - could also present risks to the viability of existing legal practices.

"In 2011, the LSA will change the rules enabling additional businesses to enter into the market, affecting firms of all sizes in different ways. The possible creation of multi-disciplinary-practices and the flooding of new entrants into the marketplace could significantly change the future conveyancing landscape."

Other problems for house sale solicitors, about which the association is concerned, include recent changes to the provision of professional indemnity insurance.

Mr Goldsmith urged residential conveyancing solicitors to join forces with others to make a positive contribution against the threat by joining the new association which already has a varied membership including international, national, regional and local law firms.