AML Sectoral Risk Assessment 2026 published

The Scottish legal sector continues to face a high inherent risk of money laundering, confirms the Law Society of Scotland’s 2026 anti-money laundering (AML) Sectoral Risk Assessment for the Scottish legal profession.

The Sectoral Risk Assessment has been produced in response to the 2025 National Risk Assessment of Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing by HM Treasury and the Home Office, which provided an overview of the current and emerging threats faced by the UK.

The 2026 Sectoral Risk Assessment examines the specific money laundering and terrorist financing risks facing the Scottish legal sector. It draws upon information from the 2025 National Risk Assessment, AML Certificate data, open and closed source intelligence, and findings from the Society’s ongoing assurance work undertaken across in-scope legal practices.

Gemma Turnbull, Head of AML at the Law Society of Scotland, said: “I urge all practices that fall under the scope of the Money Laundering Regulations to read the Sectoral Risk Assessment to ensure that their AML measures are up-to-date and robust enough to meet the ongoing threat to the Scottish legal sector.

“Criminals remain attracted to legal services due to the legitimacy associated with professional advisers, the nature of services provided, and the ability to move significant sums of money through transactions such as conveyancing.

“As a result, enhanced scrutiny, effective governance, targeted training, and continual review of policies, controls and procedures remain essential to mitigating both established and emerging risks and to safeguarding the integrity of the legal profession.”