Australia's leading AML compliance solution for Tranche 2 entities.
From 1 July 2026, lawyers will be subject to Australia's AML/CTF regime when providing certain services. As trusted advisers involved in high-value transactions and complex structures, legal professionals play a crucial gatekeeper role.
AML Shield understands the unique challenges facing the legal profession and provides tailored compliance solutions that respect client confidentiality while meeting regulatory requirements.
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Note: Some activities may still require attention even if not directly covered.
Develop a risk-based AML/CTF program appropriate for your practice areas.
Verify client identity and understand the nature of client relationships.
Identify beneficial owners of corporate and trust clients.
Monitor client relationships and transactions for suspicious activity.
Report suspicious matters to AUSTRAC (with limited legal professional privilege carve-outs).
Maintain AML/CTF records for 7 years as required.
We understand the importance of legal professional privilege. The AML/CTF framework includes specific provisions that balance compliance obligations with privilege protections.
Our solutions are designed to help you meet your obligations while maintaining appropriate confidentiality protections for your clients.
We can help you understand how AML/CTF obligations interact with your professional duties.
Contact UsLaw firms may need AML software if they provide captured legal services and need a defensible way to manage CDD, beneficial ownership, risk assessment, staff training, and records. AML Shield supports these workflows while leaving legal professional privilege and legal advice questions to the firm and its advisers.
Captured legal services generally include assisting with real estate transactions, assisting with body corporate or legal-arrangement transactions, managing client property during transactions, helping organise equity or debt financing, selling shelf companies, creating or restructuring body corporates or legal arrangements, arranging nominee roles, and providing registered office or principal-place-of-business addresses. If your firm also handles conveyancing, read about the dual-program problem for law firms doing conveyancing.
Law firms should verify clients, identify beneficial owners behind companies and trusts, understand the purpose of the matter, risk-rate the relationship, and keep evidence of the checks performed. The process should also respect privilege and confidentiality settings. Our training can help staff recognise red flags and escalation triggers.
Small law firms should confirm whether they are regulated, prepare to enrol with AUSTRAC, map each captured service, decide how the legal profession starter kit applies to any mixed legal and conveyancing practice, appoint a compliance owner, prepare CDD and record-keeping workflows, and train staff before 1 July 2026. The AML/CTF program setup guide explains the core steps.
AML Shield supports legal professionals with starter-kit aligned program setup, client and beneficial-owner workflows, screening, training records, and audit trails. Review pricing or contact AML Shield if you want to discuss how the platform fits your practice areas.
Contact us to get started on your legal compliance program.
Get the free Tranche 2 briefing
A 12-page PDF from Nathan Lynch.