Overview
Legl supports several CDD workflow types to help your firm stay compliant under Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) guidelines and Money Laundering Regulations.
Standard CDD and Enhanced CDD are also available as DIATF-certified products, which include additional fraud prevention measures for firms that require certified identity verification.
This guide covers the CDD workflows available in Legl for different scenarios, including standard and higher-assurance onboarding, in-person checks, clients based outside the UK, refreshing CDD, counterparty screening, low-risk matters, and ongoing monitoring.
ℹ️ Important
DIATF-certified CDD is not enabled by default. To enable it for your firm, speak to your Customer Success Manager or our Support team.
For more detail, see What is Legl's DIATF certification?
Before you start
Before selecting a workflow, consider the following:
Whether you already have a valid identity document on file for the client
The risk level of the matter (AML-regulated or non-AML scope)
Whether you need full CDD or a simplified counterparty screening only
Steps
Identify your scenario — use the workflow guides below to match your situation to the right CDD process.
Select and send the recommended workflow in Legl to your client, or run it internally where applicable.
Review the results in the CDD report and take any necessary follow-up action (e.g. manually reviewing a watchlist match).
Manage ongoing compliance using Legl's oversight tools, including the Compliance overview, the MLRO oversight dashboard, and individual contact pages.
Standard onboarding for a new client
Recommended workflow: Standard CDD
Use this process when:
Onboarding a new individual client remotely for an AML-regulated matter
What is included:
ID Document Validation
Biometric verification
Identity Validation (verifying identity across UK databases)
Watchlist Screening
Financial Screening (CCJs & decrees, Insolvency & Debt Collection)
Benefits:
Full identity assurance for most new clients
The recommended default for AML-regulated onboarding
ℹ️ Further guidance
For the full list of checks in each workflow, see What client checks are available in Engage?
When you need the highest level of assurance
Recommended workflow: Enhanced CDD (NFC)
Use this process when:
Onboarding higher-risk clients
Verifying directors or individuals for Companies House or ACSP purposes
What is included:
Everything in the Standard CDD workflow
An NFC chip read of the client's biometric passport using their phone, with cryptographic validation of the document
Benefits:
The highest level of identity assurance available in Legl
Reads the secure chip for a tamper-resistant check
Onboarding a client in person
Recommended workflow: Standard CDD (In-Person)
Use this process when:
You are meeting the client face-to-face and collecting their documents in person
What is included:
ID Document Validation
Identity Validation (verifying identity across UK databases)
Watchlist Screening
Financial Screening (CCJs & decrees, Insolvency & Debt Collection)
Optional visual verification in place of the remote biometric check
Benefits:
Supports face-to-face onboarding
Keeps a full digital audit trail
Onboarding a client with a non-UK address
Recommended workflow: Standard CDD with proof of address verification
Use this process when:
Your client is based outside the UK, where Identity Validation cannot run
What is included:
ID Document Validation
Biometric verification
Watchlist Screening
Financial Screening (CCJs & decrees, Insolvency & Debt Collection)
Proof of address verification, in place of Identity Validation (which returns N/A for clients outside the UK)
Benefits:
Keeps overseas onboarding compliant where UK database validation is not available
ℹ️ Further guidance
For more detail, see Why clients with a non-UK address are asked to upload a proof of address document.
Refreshing CDD for individual and business clients
Recommended workflow: In-Person CDD — Standard CDD, No ID Document Verification
Use this process when:
You have a valid identity document already on file
Clients do not possess a government-issued photo ID
What is included:
Financial Screening (CCJs & decrees, Insolvency & Debt Collection)
Proof of identity verification (verifying identity across UK databases)
Watchlist screening:
Politically Exposed Persons (PEPs)
Sanctions lists
Adverse media databases
Benefits:
No additional client input required
Ensures compliance for ongoing or repeat matters
Reduces operational friction while maintaining auditability
Simplified counterparty KYC screening
Recommended workflow: Watchlist-Only Screening
Use this process when:
Verifying counterparties with limited information
Required inputs:
Full name
Country of residence
(Optional) Year of birth
What is screened:
PEPs
Sanctions
Adverse media mentions
Benefits:
Quick, efficient verification
Minimal disruption to transaction flow
Satisfies regulatory requirements for counterparty checks
CDD for low-risk or non-AML work
Recommended workflow: Basic CDD Workflow
Use this process when:
Onboarding recurring clients
Conducting legal work outside AML regulation scope
What is included:
ID Document Validation (without requiring a selfie)
Identity Verification (verifying identity across UK databases)
Watchlist Screening
Financial Screening (CCJs & decrees, Insolvency & Debt Collection)
Benefits:
Streamlined, low-friction onboarding
Full audit trail maintained for compliance
Suitable for conveyancing, probate, or other low-risk legal services
Ongoing identity validation and monitoring
Recommended features:
Re-screening capabilities for client records
Automated ongoing monitoring for risk alerts
Management tools:
Legl provides several tools to manage ongoing compliance and oversight:
Compliance overview: a high-level dashboard that surfaces your highest-risk clients, including confirmed and unconfirmed PEP and sanctions matches, high-rated risk assessments, clients in high-risk jurisdictions, and Engage requests outstanding for 30 or more days. You can also export a CSV of flagged high-risk contacts.
MLRO oversight dashboard: a centralised view of the full CDD and audit history for every client, used to identify clients with expired CDD, those not refreshed within a set period, and clients not currently being monitored.
Individual contact page: where you manage a specific client's record, update their details, re-screen them, and view their activity history.
Benefits:
Proactive compliance management
Real-time visibility over client CDD status
Support internal audits and SRA inspections effortlessly
ℹ️ Further guidance
What happens next
Once you have selected and run the appropriate workflow, results will be available in the CDD report for that client. You can:
Review and act on any watchlist matches or risk flags
Use the Compliance overview to keep sight of your highest-risk clients and outstanding activity
Re-screen or enrol clients in ongoing monitoring as needed
If you need further support, please contact your Customer Success Manager or contact our Support team.
Important information
Standard CDD and Enhanced CDD are available as DIATF-certified products, which enforce live ID document capture and add a fraud check against the National SIRA fraud database.
Identity Validation uses UK databases, so it runs for UK-based clients only. For clients based outside the UK, a proof of address document is collected instead.
Watchlist screening matches are not automatically conclusive. A fee earner should review any flagged PEP, sanctions, or adverse media results before proceeding.
Financial Screening reflects the data available at the time the check is run and is not updated retrospectively.
These workflows are for specific scenarios where the standard CDD process is not suitable. For most new client onboarding, Standard CDD is the recommended starting point.