AML/CTF Implementation Guides for NSW law practices 

From 1 July 2026, law practices that provide a designated service will have a legislated responsibility to help combat money laundering, terrorism financing and proliferation financing. To help practices of all sizes meet their obligations, see the bespoke guidance below for sole and small practices and for medium and large practices. 

AML/CTF Implementation Guide: for medium and large practices 

This Guide has been produced to support practices that are larger and/or more complex than those the AUSTRAC Starter Kits are intended for. It is intended to help practices design and implement bespoke AML/CTF programs to suit the scope, nature and complexity of their work. It also answers some of the practical questions that compliance officers grapple with – from how to sustainably carry out personnel due diligence, to adopting a risk-based approach that is commercially workable for complex matters.  

The Guide includes: 

• a suitability assessment tool, to help practices determine the degree to which the Starter Kits can be adapted to suit their practice 
• a risk assessment guide that may be adapted or used as a reference point  
• guidance on how to tailor the Starter Kit policies, and suggestions on how to practically demonstrate compliance with the AML/CTF framework. 

AML/CTF Implementation Guide: for sole practitioners and small practices 

This Guide is designed to complement AUSTRAC’s AML/CTF Starter Kits, helping practices move from theory to practical application. Designed for sole practitioners and small practices, it provides practical guidance, real-world examples, and tools to support an appropriate and risk-based approach to compliance. 

The Guide includes:  

• information on how to customise your AML/CTF program to suit your practice  
• how to give effect to the program in your day-to-day operations 
• tips on keeping your program current as risks, operations, and regulatory expectations, evolve.  

In addition, the Combined Risk Assessment from the Guide (Annexure 4), has been extracted and developed into a standalone, editable document.