The Federation of Law Societies of Canada (the Federation) approved a Model Code of Professional Conduct and amendments to the model client identification rules, which govern client identification and verification, cash transactions, and permitted uses of lawyers’ trust accounts. These model rules have been implemented by the Law Society of Alberta.

Within the Model Code, there are Rules that seek to limit the handling of cash by lawyers and ensure that legal counsel engage in due diligence in identifying their clients. These measures have been the cornerstone of legal regulators’ anti-money laundering and anti-terrorism financing initiatives.

The Rules of the Law Society of Alberta and Code of Conduct address the conduct of lawyers and prohibit them from assisting anyone to commit an illegal act, including money laundering and terrorist financing. By adhering to these fundamental principles, lawyers help prevent crime and maintain public trust in the justice system.

The Law Society has developed a number of resources for lawyers to help them fulfill their obligations with regard to Anti-Money Laundering. For more information, visit the AML Resources page.

If you have additional questions, please contact the Practice Advisors.