“I love that my role encompasses many different aspects learned across my previous careers.” It has the analytical, numbers side, but also the people side, particularly helping first-home buyers. They touch my heart every time.” 

Conveyancing Career Growth in Nowra

For Celeste Luscombe, building a conveyancing career in Nowra has meant more growth, not less. As a licensed conveyancer at Carter Ferguson, she has found challenging property work, a supportive team, flexible working arrangements and a lifestyle that gives her time with her two children in the Shoalhaven.

Celeste’s journey to becoming a conveyancer wasn’t a straightforward one. After leaving school, she studied marketing and business in Sydney, worked in event management, and even managed artists. Then, with the changes of marriage and motherhood, she pivoted again and spent eight years working as a self-employed bookkeeper. 

“I think you take something from everything you’ve done,” Celeste reflects. “From my marketing and business background, I can relate to real estate agents because I understand how they market their properties. With bookkeeping, there’s also a strong crossover, conveyancing involves settlement figures, rate adjustments, and final calculations. Almost everything I’ve done has had transferable elements.” 

During her employment as a law clerk at a legal practice in Gerringong, Celeste developed a stronger interest in the legal aspects of property law. She subsequently decided to further her career, studied at Macquarie University, and qualified as a conveyancer five years ago. 

Celeste spent a period working in conveyancing with a firm in Wollongong. “I loved the company, but physically, the travel, three hours a day, was getting to me,” she explains. So, when an opportunity came up much closer to home, she jumped at it. 

That opportunity came from Carter Ferguson. Having worked alongside many of the firm’s team on the other side of matters, they knew her reputation and her values. 

“The timing was right and my personal aspirations aligned with what they were all about,” she says. “I said absolutely.” 

Since joining Carter Ferguson two years ago, Celeste has experienced rapid professional growth.  She’s now handling complex off-the-plan sales, rural properties, and commercial conveyancing, work that has extended her skills far beyond the residential work she already knew well. 

“I’ve definitely grown since being here,” she says. “It’s become much more practical rather than theoretical, which has been great. At the moment we’re working on a fairly large subdivision, which has been really interesting.” 

For skilled professionals worried that a regional conveyancing career means stagnation, Celeste offers a powerful counterpoint.

“If anything, I feel I’ve experienced more growth working locally,” she says. “And even from a remuneration perspective, it hasn’t been a compromise.” 

One of the biggest differences Celeste has found working in a regional law firm compared to a city practice is the culture. Rather than cutthroat competition, she’s found collaboration. 

“Even with other conveyancers, technically we should be competing, but everyone’s so supportive,” she explains. “Another conveyancer in Nowra sent me clients because they were at capacity. “It’s a clear reflection of a client-first, relationship-driven approach.” 

At Carter Ferguson, that ethos is backed by practical support. Celeste has flexible working arrangements, allowing her to attend school events for her two children and make up time. 

“That was another thing that really drew me to the firm, the work-life balance,” she says. “Especially when you have children, it’s a balancing act, and they support that.” 

She is also supported in building her local network, regularly attending community events and developing relationships with real estate agents and brokers across the region. 

“They’ve really supported me in getting involved locally, whether that’s catching up with people over coffee or attending events like Women in Business luncheons and breakfast meetings,” she says. “There’s a really strong community feel.” 

Celeste’s story directly challenges the misconception that building a conveyancing career regionally means compromising your future.

“The perception in the city is that if you live regionally, you sacrifice a fulfilling career,” she says. “But that’s not true. You can have balance. You don’t have to compromise.” 

She encourages other skilled professionals considering a move to the Shoalhaven, to trust their gut and take the leap.

Celeste’s story is part of Think Regional’s growing collection of South Coast career stories, showing how skilled professionals are building strong careers across local industries.

For readers interested in property transactions or conveyancing careers, NSW Government explains the role of licensed conveyancers for property buyers and sellers. Macquarie University also offers a Conveyancing Law and Practice course recognised for NSW conveyancer licensing.