Anti-money laundering guidance for the legal sector

This guidance is designed to help legal professionals and firms comply with the Money Laundering Regulations 2017 (as amended).

The guidance has two parts:

2b and 2c are to be read alongside part one of the guidance. 2a is designed to be read independently of part one.

The Legal Sector Affinity Group (LSAG) reviewed and redrafted the guidance following the implementation of the EU 5th Money Laundering Directive.

LSAG is made up of the legal sector’s regulatory and representative bodies:

  • the Law Society of England and Wales
  • Bar Standards Board
  • Chartered Institute of Legal Executives
  • Council for Licensed Conveyancers
  • Faculty of Advocates
  • Faculty Office of the Archbishop of Canterbury
  • General Council of the Bar
  • General Council of the Bar of Northern Ireland
  • Law Society of Northern Ireland
  • Law Society of Scotland
  • Society of Scrivener Notaries
  • Solicitors Regulation Authority

The guidance was last updated in March 2023. Find out what's changed

HM Treasury approved the guidance in July 2022.

The Money Laundering Regulations 2017 were amended by the:

The guidance replaces our practice note on anti-money laundering and previous versions of the guidance.

Browse the interactive guidance using the navigation on the left-hand side of this page or download a PDF version.

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