Client Onboarding Graduate Scheme 2026

Fieldfisher; Belfast; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading international law firm in Belfast is seeking a Graduate Onboarding Officer to join their Risk and Compliance team. This two-year program will provide the opportunity to develop skills in KYC and AML processes. Ideal candidates will have a 2:1 law degree and strong communication and analytical skills. The firm offers a supportive environment to guide graduates through the program, focusing on risk assessment and client onboarding.

Qualifications

• Achieved 2:1 in a law degree (preferable).
• Demonstrable research and organisational skills.
• Clear written and verbal communication abilities.
• Ability to adjust workflows to meet deadlines.
• Team-focused and self-motivated.

Responsibilities

• Utilising AI technology to assist Anti Money Laundering processes.
• Supporting the firm on onboarding clients and matters.
• Reviewing and assessing AML risks for new client requests.
• Documenting research into AML 'Pack' for fee-earners.
• Verifying ID of individuals using biometric verification tools.
• Collating information from company registers globally.

Skills

Research skills

Organisational skills

Verbal communication

Written communication

Problem-solving skills

Attention to detail

Teamwork

Self-motivated

Microsoft Office Products

Education

2:1 law degree

Job description

Overview

The Vacancy

Fieldfisher's Client Onboarding Graduate programme is an excellent opportunity for motivated, ambitious and curious Graduates who are interested in a career in Risk and Compliance at Fieldfisher. The successful candidates will join the firm on the 19th of January 2026. As a Graduate Onboarding Officer, you will develop knowledge and practical experience of Know Your Customer (KYC) and Anti-Money Laundering (AML) checks. You will also have the opportunity to develop the skills to assess the impact of international Sanctions, involvement of Politically Exposed Persons (PEPs), and conduct negative news reviews to develop a holistic and detailed risk assessment.

A bit about the programme

This two-year programme will help in developing your communication and organisational skills and managing your own workload. You will be communicating with some of the most senior people in the firm. You will gain exposure to the work types, client types and practice types of an international law firm, from assisting individuals to some of the largest corporations. You will be able to leverage this knowledge in your career to demonstrate knowledge on the breadth of work at a law firm. By working inside Risk you will gather experience on the risks associated with legal work and our clients, also how to mitigate those risks. You will develop excellent research and analytical skills and bring this into any legal work you subsequently do and identifying risks in potential clients/matters early.

As a Graduate Onboarding Officer, you will be...

• Utilising cloud-based, AI-infused technology to assist our Anti Money Laundering processes
• Providing support to the Firm, Partners and offices on onboarding clients and matters
• Diligently review and assess the AML risks associated with all new client and matter requests submitted via the Firm’s systems (e.g. Intapp) to perform KYC/CDD
• Document research and analysis into an AML 'Pack' provided to fee-earners for their approval
• Assessment and collation of Politically Exposed Persons
• Collating information from the Company registers globally
• Assessing negative news stories about potential clients for their risk to the firm
• Liaising with Partners and Senior Stakeholders to obtain outstanding information
• Verifying the ID of individuals using our Biometric Identity Verification tool
• Matter Management on our bespoke in-house finance system, Evergreen
• Assisting the team by gathering information on active clients to be reviewed
• Performing ongoing monitoring of existing client relationships
• Participating in meetings with the firmwide risk team
• Assist with developing training materials, presentations, and courses on AML
• Performing Conflict of Interest searches, diligently assessing the results and liaising with fee-earners across the firm to address any concerns

A bit about you

• 2:1 (achieved) in a law degree (preferable)
• Demonstrable research skills
• Demonstrable organisational skills
• Ability to adjust workflows to meet deadlines
• Clear written and verbal communication
• Team-focused
• Self-motivated
• Working knowledge of Microsoft Office Products
• Excellent problem-solving skills and attention to detail
• Keen interest in a career in Risk and Compliance

Recruitment Process (Dates are subject to change)

• Applications open 1st of September 2025
• Applications close 10th of October 2025
• Video interviews commence on 13th October 2025
• Assessment Centre - November (date to be confirmed)

Our Early Careers Team are on hand to support throughout the process.

For further information regarding the scheme, please visit our website.

Quotes from our current graduates

• "The Graduate Onboarding Scheme has significantly helped me grow as a young professional navigating the legal world"
• "Surrounded by a welcoming and supportive team"
• "I would recommend this graduate scheme to anyone looking to begin a career in AML or the legal world in general"
• "It has boosted my confidence, provided hands-on experience in the corporate world, and taught me invaluable knowledge in key legal areas"
• "Impactful introduction to the legal world, enabling me to immerse myself in a close-knit and accomplished team"

Who are we looking for?

• We don't have a type. We believe our differences are our strength; varied cultures, approaches and experiences can only benefit us.

Inclusion is not exclusive:

If all our differences are highlighted, no one stands out for being different. At Fieldfisher, all our rich diversity is celebrated. We will provide the equipment to allow you to shine at the interview and beyond. Just let us know what you need.

For accessibility information on our Belfast office, visit: Accessing Fieldfisher Belfast Hub ¦ Fieldfisher

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