The Influence of Project Planning Practices on the Performance of Conveyancing Start-Up Law Firms in Kajiado County, Kenya

Conveyancing ensures the lawful transfer of property ownership, protecting both buyers and sellers from legal and financial risks. Despite its significance, start-up conveyancing law firms in Kajiado County face various challenges that hinder their operational effectiveness. The study aimed to assess the influence of project planning practices on the performance of these firms. The study was anchored on Contingency Theory. The study adopted a convergent research design and mixed methods approach. The study targeted staff members including associates, legal clerks and interns from 13 conveyancing start-up law firms in Kajiado County. In addition, thirteen managing directors or firm leaders had agreed to act as key informants. Both statistical methods and qualitative analysis was part of the data analysis process. All quantitative data was analyzed with SPSS version 26, using methods such as frequencies, means, percentages and standard deviations, as well as correlation and multiple regression. Regarding project goal setting, 52 (46.4%) respondents agreed and 35 (31.3%) strongly agreed that their firm clearly defines project goals and deliverables before initiating conveyancing tasks. On the consequences of inadequate planning, 50 (44.6%) agreed and 41 (36.6%) strongly agreed that a lack of detailed planning contributes to frequent delays in conveyancing processes. It was concluded that, well-structured planning processes were associated with improved service delivery, timely completion of tasks, client satisfaction, and overall firm performance. To enhance project planning, firms should institutionalize structured planning processes, including clear goal setting, resource forecasting, task scheduling, and regular risk assessments to reduce delays and improve operational efficiency. Keywords: Project Planning, Practices, Performance, Conveyancing Start-Ups, Law Firms