By guest writer, Tracey Longbottom, Co-founder, Forsyte
Risk assessments are fundamental to legal practice, yet they remain one of the most challenging aspects of compliance for many firms. If you've ever wondered why getting them right feels like an uphill battle, you're certainly not alone.
Having spent almost 20 years working with law firms, I’ve witnessed first-hand how firms struggle to bridge the gap between compliance requirements and practical, day-to-day reality. The challenges are real, but so are the solutions.
The perfect storm
The difficulty isn't down to a single factor - it's a perfect storm of interconnected issues creating a compliance headache.
The policy gap sits at the heart of the matter. Compliance policies tell law firms what they should do to assess client and matter risk, but they rarely define clear digital processes or measurable outcomes. It's like being given a destination without a map.
Tick-box culture compounds the problem. The regulator demands that assessments are completed systematically with a holistic view of risk, yet provides tick-box templates that drive offline, non-digital practices. This creates a fundamental disconnect between regulatory expectations and the tools provided to meet them.
Fragmented technology completes the picture. Most law firms rely on multiple applications built on legacy systems, with disconnected processes and unstructured data that make it nearly impossible to see the bigger picture.
Time to rethink Risk Assessments
Perhaps we need to reconsider what 'risk assessment' really means. The term doesn't fully capture the broader strategic value this thinking brings to a business. The real challenge lies in translating risk insights into practical, actionable behaviours for lawyers.
Technology has moved on - have your processes?
The AML and compliance technology landscape has evolved dramatically. Biometrics have made identity validation more accessible without requiring office visits. Open banking adoption has soared, providing stronger data and deeper context for source of funds verification. NFC-enabled apps now support passport validation to meet Safe Harbour requirements.
Yet despite these advances, many risk assessment processes have remained static. Technology exists to make compliance more robust and less burdensome.
Here's a thought I've always found useful: lawyers train to be the best lawyers. They don't train to be great managers, marketers, system users, or process writers. Yet we expect them to excel at all of these things alongside their core expertise. This is where great technology can really add value - not by replacing professional judgment, but by ensuring these extra areas are covered, allowing lawyers to focus on what they trained for while still meeting the firm's compliance obligations.
Beyond compliance. The strategic value of getting it right
Risk assessments should be opportunities for lawyers to apply commercial, ethical, and strategic judgment - not just compliance exercises. When done properly, they support the trusted adviser role that clients expect, strengthen firm reputation through consistent and well-judged risk decisions, enable strategic decision-making for clients and drive internal consistency across the firm.
This is something I'm genuinely passionate about: helping staff understand why they're completing these procedures, not just what to put in the box. Too often, compliance training amounts to "in this checkbox we usually put this or that" but that approach breeds complacency and leaves firms exposed. When people understand the purpose behind the process, they make better judgments, spot genuine risks, and become active participants in protecting the firm rather than passive form-fillers. Investing in your team's knowledge of risk and compliance isn't just good practice, it's what transforms compliance from a burden into a genuine business strength.
The audit test
The ultimate measure of success isn't just completing the assessment - it's being able to recreate your thinking when the SRA (or FCA) starts asking questions. The regulator expects firms to demonstrate not just that they completed the right checks, but that they understood why those checks mattered and how they informed their risk decisions.
This requires a straightforward discipline: say what you do, do what you say, and record everything properly.
Building a better approach
Transforming your risk assessment process means focusing on several key areas. Give teams instant access to risk policies and ensure those policies are updated promptly to meet regulatory changes. Training should reflect your specific policies, not generic templates. Work with trusted data and technology providers who understand AML compliance. Move from reactive to proactive approaches, and create a single source of truth for risk assessment results.
Risk assessments don't have to be the compliance burden they've become. With the right approach, technology, and mindset, they can become powerful tools for strategic decision-making and client service excellence.
About First AML
First AML comes from the perspective of both a technology provider, but also as compliance professionals. Prior to releasing, First AML’s all-in-one AML workflow platform, we processed over 2,000,000 AML cases ourselves. Understanding the acute problem that faces firms these days as they try to scale their own AML, is in our DNA.
That's why First AML now powers thousands of compliance experts around the globe to reduce the time and cost burden of complex and international entity KYC. Source stands out as a leading solution for organisations with complex or international onboarding needs. It provides streamlined collaboration and ensures uniformity in all AML practices.
Keen to find out more? Book a demo today!