Conveyancers may practice independently or in the employ of an attorney's firm. A number of merchant banks, such as Brait and Investec, employ in-house lawyers who are highly specialised in certain fields of the law, such as mergers, acquisitions and takeovers. Other financial institutions, such as banks and insurance companies, employ lawyers whose work is tailored to the needs of the company. They act as intermediaries between the company and independent attorneys and advocates. The major financial institutions do not instruct attorneys and debt-collecting agencies on a retainer basis in debt collection matters.
Fees depend on the efficiency of the attorney instructed.
Usually a flat rate is agreed upon where debts due to the company fall under R5000. The proposed changes to the legal profession have far-reaching consequences. Conveyancers will no longer have to be admitted attorneys before commencing practice. They will only be required to write a conveyancing examination. Effectively this means that any lay person may qualify as a conveyancer and take up employment with an estate agent or a bank.