Oakwood Solicitors, a respected legal practice specialising in property and commercial law, struggled with paper-heavy client intake processes that delayed case initiation and created compliance risks in their anti-money laundering (AML) procedures.
The Challenge: Paper-Based Onboarding Creating Delays and Risks
The firm's client onboarding process relied on physical forms, manual identity verification, and paper-based AML checks. This resulted in 3-day delays before cases could begin, creating client frustration and compliance gaps that risked regulatory sanctions from the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA).nnThe core operational issues were:
The Solution: Digital Onboarding Platform with AML Integration
Edderton Scott designed and implemented a comprehensive digital onboarding platform that integrated identity verification, AML checks, and document signing into a seamless client journey.nnComplete digital client journey from initial contact to fully onboarded case file, fully compliant with legal and regulatory requirements.nnWe began by mapping every step of the existing onboarding process and analysing regulatory requirements from the SRA, Money Laundering Regulations, and GDPR to ensure the digital solution met all compliance obligations.nnWe developed a custom client portal with integrated third-party services for identity verification and AML screening, creating a seamless experience for both clients and legal staff.
Complete digital client journey from initial contact to fully onboarded case file, fully compliant with legal and regulatory requirements.
"The digital onboarding system has revolutionised our client experience. What used to take days now happens in hours, and our compliance team has complete confidence in the verification process. We're winning more business because clients appreciate the modern, efficient approach."
— Eleanor Bennett, Managing Partner at Oakwood SolicitorsThe Result
The digital onboarding flow reduced client intake time from 3 days to 4 hours—an 85% reduction in onboarding time. Compliance accuracy reached 100% with automated AML checks and audit trails that exceeded SRA requirements. Administrative workload decreased by 60%, allowing support staff to focus on higher-value activities. Client satisfaction scores for the onboarding process increased from 65% to 95%, and the firm reported a 20% increase in new client acquisition attributed to the improved first impression.