Client expectations are shifting, and outdated onboarding workflows are costing law firms and conveyancers both time and trust. Here’s what modern onboarding should look like.
Why onboarding is under scrutiny
The conveyancing process today is shaped by mounting pressures: rising client expectations, evolving compliance demands, and increasing competition from tech-enabled firms. At the centre of these challenges lies a process often overlooked but fundamentally important, client onboarding. This isn’t just a step on the checklist; it’s the foundation for everything that follows.
Clients expect swift, secure, and simple digital interactions. Yet, many firms still rely on time-consuming email exchanges, paper forms, and fragmented verification systems. These outdated workflows not only frustrate clients but expose firms to risk.
The old process is costing you more than time
When onboarding is clunky or inconsistent, it creates more than just admin headaches. Clients become impatient, matters are delayed, and your firm’s credibility takes a hit. More significantly, compliance risks often start right here, with poorly documented ID checks, ambiguous source of funds trails, or manual data entry mistakes that go unnoticed until an audit looms.
What modern onboarding looks like
Progressive firms are reimagining onboarding through the eyes of the client. They’re creating seamless, mobile-first experiences that allow new clients to verify their identity, provide documentation, and complete necessary checks within minutes. Platforms like Checkboard enable exactly that: a secure link sent to the client initiates a streamlined process that integrates Biometric ID checks, Source of Funds verification, Open Banking, and document submission into one user-friendly flow, all without requiring an in-person visit.
The impact on your business
The difference this makes is measurable. Firms that have embraced modern onboarding consistently report faster file openings, improved client satisfaction, and fewer compliance headaches. One of our customers reported that their AML onboarding and verification took just one tenth of the time since using Checkboard! Fee earners spend less time chasing documents and more time progressing matters. The entire firm runs more efficiently.
Your onboarding is your first impression
First impressions have always mattered in legal services. But today, they’re often formed long before a client ever picks up the phone. In an increasingly digital-first world, your onboarding process is your new front door. It’s where trust is built or broken. Make it simple, secure, and modern, and you’ve already won half the battle.
Want to upgrade your onboarding flow? Book a Checkboard demo today
This article was submitted to be published by Checkboard as part of their advertising agreement with Today’s Conveyancer. The views expressed in this article are those of the submitter and not those of Today’s Conveyancer.
