What is a Legal Register & does my business need one?

4 October, 2023
icor environmental compliance legal register

Legal Register: An Essential Tool for Compliance in UK Businesses

This blog outlines the key requirements of a legal register and what makes it a viable tool for assessing your various business functions. Furthermore, legal registers (check iCOR if you’d like some help) are a mandate when it comes to filing for some important ISO certifications like:

  • ISO 14001 – an essential element of your environmental management system (EMS)
  •  ISO 50001 – for your Energy management systems (EnMS)
  • ISO 45001 – important for occupational health and safety management systems (OHS)

What is a legal register?

A legal register is a record or database that lists and summarises the rules and laws relevant to a specific company or organisation. It acts as a tool to help businesses in keeping track of their legal responsibilities. Furthermore, a legal compliance register ensures that they adhere to all applicable laws and regulations.

Typically, a legal registry contains the following details:

  • A list of the laws and rules that the company must abide by.
  • A summary of the principal obligations and conditions imposed by each law or regulation.
  • The dates on which new regulations were made or laws were modified.
  • Specifics of any licences needed to operate in accordance with the rules and laws.
  • A history of any legal compliance measures that were implemented.

Creating and maintaining a legal register is a complex process. It requires keeping up-to-date with changes in laws and regulations. Additionally, the register is required to be accurate and comprehensive at all times.

However, having a legal register is essential for managing legal risk and compliance with the law.


Learn how a legal register work with an iCOR Demo ↗️


What are the main compliance obligations for a business?

Depending on a company’s size, type, and industry, as well as the country in which it conducts business, a company may have different compliance duties. Nonetheless, some of the most important compliance requirements that the majority of UK businesses must follow include:

Regulations for health and safety

Companies are required by law to protect the welfare and health of all parties impacted by their operations. This includes abiding by laws like the Health and Safety at Work Act of 1974, which specifies businesses’ obligations to maintain a safe workplace.

Data protection regulations

Laws such as the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), mandate stringent guidelines for the collection, processing, and archiving of personal data for businesses. This involves obtaining individuals’ consent before collecting and processing their data. It also puts necessary security regulations to protect the data.

Employment Law

Organizations have to abide by a number of employment laws, including the National Minimum Wage Act of 1998, which establishes minimum pay rates for workers, and the Equality Act of 2010, which outlaws discrimination in the workplace based on factors like age, gender, and race.

Environmental Compliance Regulations

Organizations are required to abide by environmental regulations, such as the Environmental Protection Act of 1990, which lays out the legal framework for waste management, pollution control, and environmental protection.

Taxation

Paying the appropriate tax on profits, signing up for VAT if necessary, and completing proper tax returns on time are some top examples of taxation obligations.

Company Law

Business regulations, such as the Companies Act 2006, sets out the legal requirements for forming and operating a company. This may include filing annual accounts and maintaining accurate company records.

 


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Why do you require a legal register?

Environmental Risk - Environmental Compliance Register

Legal registers are usually required for ISO management systems which include environmental management, health and safety management and information security.

A legal register is also a helpful tool for companies to make sure they are adhering to legal and regulatory requirements. A legal registry is crucial for businesses for a number of reasons:

Legal Compliance

Keeping track of the laws and regulations that apply to a firm is made easier with the use of a legal register. Businesses can guarantee that they are adhering to all pertinent legal standards and lower the risk of noncompliance by keeping a legal register.

Risk management

Controlling legal risk requires adhering to all legal obligations. Failing to abide by the law may result in legal action, penalties, harm to one’s reputation, and other adverse effects. A legal registry enables firms to locate possible risk areas and take the necessary steps to reduce those risks.

Performance Enhancement

Keeping a legal register can help firms perform better overall. Businesses can take steps to remedy any areas where they may be falling short of legal requirements and enhance their operations by identifying those areas.

Due Diligence

Legal registers are an essential resource for conducting due diligence. It offers proof that a company has made an effort to discover and adhere to legal obligations, which can be significant in court cases or when interacting with stakeholders like investors, clients, or regulators.


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What makes a good legal register?

A good environmental compliance register should be comprehensive, accurate, up-to-date, and accessible. It should include information on all relevant environmental laws and regulations that apply to the business, as well as the actions taken by the business to comply with those requirements. Here are some key elements of a good environmental compliance register:

Identification of Applicable Regulations

A good environmental compliance register should identify all the environmental regulations that apply to the business. This should include not only national laws but also any regional or local laws that may apply.

Detailed Requirements

The register should provide detailed information on the requirements under each regulation, including deadlines for compliance, reporting requirements, and any permits or licenses required.

Compliance Status

The register should include information on the compliance status of the business for each requirement, such as whether the business is in full compliance or if any corrective actions are required.

Tracking of Changes

The register should be regularly updated to reflect changes in environmental regulations or updates to compliance status. This ensures that the register is always up-to-date and accurate.

Record-Keeping

The register should include a record of any environmental incidents, inspections, or audits, as well as any corrective actions taken. This provides a clear audit trail of the business’s environmental compliance history.

Accessibility

The register should be accessible to all relevant stakeholders within the business, including environmental, health and safety, and management teams. This ensures that everyone is aware of their responsibilities and can contribute to maintaining compliance.


How to build an environmental legal register

iCOR helps businesses build ISO 14001 legal registers and streamline the whole process of keeping records

Building an environmental legal register can be a complex process, but here are some steps that can help guide the process:

Identify Applicable Laws and Regulations

The first step in building an environmental legal register is to identify all the relevant laws and regulations that apply to the business. This may include national laws, as well as regional or local laws.

Categorize the Regulations

Once you have identified the applicable regulations, categorize them by topic or area of focus, such as air emissions, water pollution, waste management, etc. This will help to organize the register and make it easier to manage.

Gather Relevant Information

For each regulation, gather all relevant information, such as the requirements of the regulation, deadlines for compliance, reporting requirements, and any permits or licenses required. This information can be obtained from regulatory agencies, legal advisors, or other reliable sources.

Evaluate Compliance Status

Determine the compliance status of the business for each requirement, such as whether the business is in full compliance, partially compliant, or non-compliant. This may involve conducting an environmental audit or review of the business’s operations.

Establish Corrective Actions

For any areas where the business is not in compliance, establish a plan of corrective actions to bring the business into compliance. This may involve implementing new policies or procedures, investing in new equipment, or training employees on new processes.

Update the Register Regularly

It is important to update the environmental legal register regularly to ensure that it remains accurate and up-to-date. This may involve monitoring changes to regulations, updating compliance status, or recording new incidents or corrective actions.

Communicate and Train

Once the register is established, it is important to communicate its contents to relevant stakeholders within the business and train them on their roles and responsibilities in maintaining compliance.


Does my business require a legal compliance register?

In the UK, businesses are required to comply with a wide range of laws and regulations, including environmental, health and safety and employment among others. A legal compliance register can be a valuable tool for businesses to manage their legal and regulatory obligations effectively.

However, whether your business requires a legal compliance register depends on various factors:
  • the size and complexity of your business,
  • the sector you operate in, and
  • the legal and regulatory requirements that apply to your business.

If your business operates in a highly regulated industry, such as healthcare, financial services, or energy, it is more likely that you will require a legal compliance register to manage your legal and regulatory obligations effectively. Even in a less regulated industry, a legal compliance register can still be a valuable tool. Through a compliance register, you can ensure that you are meeting your legal obligations and managing any potential risks.

It is advisable to establish a legal compliance register if your business is subject to legal and regulatory requirements. This will help to identify all relevant laws and regulations that apply to your business, track compliance status, and manage any corrective actions needed to ensure compliance. Having a legal compliance register can also provide evidence that your business has taken reasonable steps to identify and comply with legal requirements. This can be important in legal proceedings or when dealing with stakeholders such as investors, customers, or regulators.

While not all businesses may require a legal compliance register, it is a good idea for businesses to establish one to manage their legal and regulatory obligations effectively and reduce the risk of non-compliance.


FAQs

What is a legal register?

A legal register is a document that lists all the laws and regulations that a business must comply with to avoid legal consequences.

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What are the legal requirements for HSE in UK?

The legal requirements for HSE in the UK include compliance with the Health and Safety at Work Act, management of workplace risks, and provision of information and training to employees.

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What is a legal register in EMS?

In an Environmental Management System (EMS), a legal register is a tool that helps businesses to identify and manage their environmental legal obligations.

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What should be in a legal register?

A legal register should include a list of all relevant laws and regulations that apply to a business, along with details of compliance requirements, deadlines, and actions needed to ensure compliance.

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What is the use of a legal register?

The use of a legal register is to help businesses manage their legal and regulatory obligations effectively, reduce the risk of non-compliance, and provide evidence of compliance to stakeholders.

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What is a legal compliance register necessary?

A legal compliance register is not always necessary, but it can be a valuable tool for businesses to manage their legal and regulatory obligations effectively.

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Do I need a legal register?

Whether you need a legal register depends on various factors, such as the size and complexity of your business, the sector you operate in, and the legal and regulatory requirements that apply to your business.

·

Do you need a legal register for ISO 14001?
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