AML Firm-Wide Risk Assessments for Law Firms
Does your AML firm-wide risk assessment reflect your clients, services, transactions and delivery channels? Explore practical guidance on preparing, reviewing and updating a FWRA, connecting identified risks with effective controls and avoiding generic assessments. Visit Lexsure’s FWRA support page to explore the requirements and discuss your firm’s assessment.
Does your FWRA describe your firm or a generic practice?
Your AML firm-wide risk assessment should explain the risks arising from the work you actually undertake and inform the controls your staff apply.
A template is a starting point. Your assessment needs to reflect your firm’s size, clients, services, transactions, geographical exposure and delivery channels.
- Identify and assess the risks relevant to your practice.
- Explain the reasoning behind your conclusions.
- Connect identified risks with appropriate controls.
- Revisit the assessment when your work or exposure changes.
- Keep a clear record of review and management approval.
Explore Lexsure’s FWRA guidance and support, and discuss whether your existing assessment needs reviewing or developing.
Explore Lexsure’s FWRA support →
Support with your assessment does not transfer responsibility for AML compliance away from your firm.
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Small Law Firms and SRA Risk: Demonstrating Effective Controls
Originally published 15 March 2013. Updated October 2026 to distinguish the historical report from current regulatory guidance. Small law firms and SRA risk were the subject of this article in March 2013. The underlying concern remains relevant: how can a practice demonstrate that its controls protect clients and operate effectively? Firm size alone does not…