By Legal Futures Associate Checkboard [1]
For too long, law firms have accepted a certain inefficiency in the onboarding and AML process. Manual onboarding, after all, has just been part of the job for decades. Paper forms, document uploads, photocopied passports and half-a-dozen different spreadsheets and databases have been seen as “good enough”, even when it means slow workflows, higher costs, and more human error.
As we enter 2026, we think it’s time for law firms to stop being held back by “trusted” manual processes and start embracing the future of onboarding. And with a fast, secure, reliable onboarding solution like Checkboard on the menu, there’s no longer an excuse.
Here’s why it’s time to make your new year’s resolution a better onboarding solution:
Client expectations have changed
In 2026, the reality is that clients are accustomed to seamless digital experiences. Take banking, for instance. It’s now possible for clients – especially younger ones – to apply for loans, open bank accounts, and transfer money in a matter of minutes. Why shouldn’t the same logic apply to legal onboarding?
If they can do all this on an app, imagine how they’ll feel when their law firm asks them to come in to the office to scan their passport.
Instead, Checkboard allows clients to do the whole process from the comfort of their home. They simply download the Checkboard app, enter their personal details, scan their passports, and let us take care of the rest. It’s faster, more efficient, and it makes your clients much happier.
Compliance demands are evolving
With the FCA taking over AML monitoring for law firms, there’s never been a better time to get yourself audit-ready for the new regulators. But with manual processes, your checks can be disjointed, time consuming, and prone to error.
Fortunately, Checkboard can take the stress out of compliance. With us, you can do all your AML, KYC, and identity checks on one platform in a single seamless onboarding flow. Once your clients have uploaded all the required information, you get an auditable report sent straight to your dashboard, so you can prove to the FCA that you’ve done your due diligence.
Ongoing monitoring is no longer an afterthought
When it comes to ongoing monitoring, manual onboarding has often involved checking entered data against PEPs and sanctions lists – and hoping for the best. It’s a slow, laborious process prone to human error and missed red flags, and it can easily get you in trouble with the regulators.
Checkboard doesn’t just eliminate the slog of searching through lists, it transforms it into a smooth, efficient, and comprehensive process. Our ongoing monitoring automatically scans your clients against PEPs, sanctions, mortality, and adverse media lists daily for 12 months.
Any red flags and inconsistencies are sent straight to you in a fresh report, giving you the data you need to assess risks and take action.
Find out how Checkboard can transform your onboarding for 2026. Get in touch today. [2]