Important: This tool only indicates whether a legal practice area may be relevant under Australia's AML/CTF reforms applying to professional services. It does not determine whether a practitioner, practice, or specific matter is captured.
The results are indicative only. Whether AML/CTF obligations apply depends on the actual services provided and how they are carried out, not the name or category of the practice area.
Practitioners should review the Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorism Financing Act 2006 (Cth) (as amended) and the Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorism Financing Rules 2025 to assess their own circumstances.
Under the revised AML/CTF framework, legal practices are regulated as part of the professional services sector. The regime applies when a legal practitioner provides certain designated services. These are specific activities listed in Table 6 in section 6(5B) of the Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorism Financing Act 2006 (Cth) which, when carried out in the course of legal practice, give rise to reporting, record-keeping and compliance obligations. Limited exceptions apply in certain circumstances, including where services are provided pursuant to a court order or otherwise excluded under the Act.
Some designated services also capture situations where a legal practitioner assists a client in carrying out a relevant activity. In these cases, the scope of regulation may extend beyond directly performing the transaction itself and can include preparatory or facilitative steps that form part of the delivery of the designated service.
The objective of the Act is to address money laundering and terrorism financing risks across the full range of professional services. It is not limited to practices that handle cash transactions or work with known criminal clients. Instead, the framework is designed to apply based on the nature of the services provided and the risk profile they present.
Further information about designated services as they apply to professional services, including legal practices, is available in AUSTRAC’s AML/CTF Professional Services reform guidance.
From 1 July 2026, a legal practice that provides one or more designated services will be required to comply with the AML/CTF regime.
Use the dropdown selection below to identify your practice area and assess whether the services you provide are likely to fall within scope.