Looking for a bespoke legal register for your organisation? A legal register provides a structured record of the health and safety and environmental legislation and other legal requirements relevant to your business. Our registers are tailored to each client’s activities, locations and jurisdictions, rather than relying on a generic list of legislation.
Need a bespoke legal register? Contact us to discuss your organisation’s requirements.
Frequently Asked Questions
Legal Registers
Why outsource legal register maintenance to a specialist consultancy?
Maintaining a useful legal register requires more than compiling a list of legislation. It involves understanding the client’s activities, identifying relevant legal requirements, monitoring changes and assessing their relevance. Outsourcing can provide access to specialist knowledge and a structured monitoring process while allowing the organisation to retain ownership of its legal compliance responsibilities.
If you need a bespoke legal register for your business detailing your obligations, please contact one of our team.
How can I improve my existing legal register?
Start by checking whether the register reflects the organisation’s current activities, sites and jurisdictions. Then assess whether relevant legislation is missing, obsolete legislation remains included, legislative changes are being monitored and responsibilities for compliance are clear. The register should also be integrated with the organisation’s compliance evaluation and management system processes.
If you need a bespoke legal register for your business detailing your obligations, please contact one of our team.
What is the difference between a legal register and legal advice?
A legal register is a compliance-management tool that identifies applicable legal requirements. Legal advice involves applying law to particular facts and providing advice on a specific legal issue. A register should not be regarded as a substitute for specialist legal advice where an organisation requires an interpretation of law or advice concerning a particular dispute or legal matter.
If you need a bespoke legal register for your business detailing your obligations, please contact one of our team.
Can a legal register include health and safety requirements for contractors?
Potentially. The organisation’s legal responsibilities concerning contractors depend on the jurisdiction, activities and circumstances. Where contractor management creates applicable legal requirements, these can be identified within the relevant health and safety compliance framework.
If you need a bespoke legal register for your business detailing your obligations, please contact one of our team.
Can a legal register include environmental permits?
Yes. Where an organisation’s activities require environmental permits or similar authorisations, these can form part of the organisation’s compliance obligations. The register or associated compliance system should identify the relevant authorisation and the obligations arising from it.
If you need a bespoke legal register for your business detailing your obligations, please contact one of our team.
Can a legal register include permits and licences?
Where relevant, yes. Environmental and health and safety compliance can involve permits, licences, consents, approvals and other legally binding requirements in addition to legislation. These should be clearly distinguished from general legislation and incorporated into the compliance framework where they fall within the agreed scope.
If you need a bespoke legal register for your business detailing your obligations, please contact one of our team.
Can a legal register be used by large or multi-site organisations?
Yes. Larger organisations can use legal registers to create a consistent framework for identifying requirements across multiple sites, business activities and jurisdictions. The register can also help identify common corporate requirements alongside site-specific obligations.
If you need a bespoke legal register for your business detailing your obligations, please contact one of our team.
Can you create a legal register for a small business?
Yes. Small businesses can have significant legal obligations, even where their operations are relatively straightforward. A proportionate bespoke register can identify the health and safety and environmental requirements relevant to the business without introducing unnecessary complexity.
If you need a bespoke legal register for your business detailing your obligations, please contact one of our team.
How long does it take to create a bespoke legal register?
The timescale depends on the scope and complexity of the organisation. Factors include the number of sites, activities, jurisdictions and legislative subject areas involved. A focused single-site register can normally be developed more quickly than a complex multi-site or multi-jurisdiction register.
If you need a bespoke legal register for your business detailing your obligations, please contact one of our team.
What information do you need to create my legal register?
The information required will depend on the organisation. Relevant information can include business activities, products and services, locations, processes, equipment, substances, waste streams, environmental aspects, workforce arrangements, contractors and applicable permits or licences. Understanding the organisation’s activities is essential to determining which legal requirements are relevant.
If you need a bespoke legal register for your business detailing your obligations, please contact one of our team.
Can you identify legislation that does not apply to my business?
Yes. Determining what does not apply can be an important part of creating a useful bespoke register. The purpose is not simply to accumulate legislation but to establish which legal requirements are relevant to the organisation. Where appropriate, the basis for excluding particular areas of legislation can also be documented.
If you need a bespoke legal register for your business detailing your obligations, please contact one of our team.
What is included in a professional legal register service?
The scope can vary, but a professional service may include identification of applicable legislation, assessment of relevance, preparation of the register, identification of legislative changes, periodic updates and supporting information. The service should be tailored to the client’s activities and agreed scope rather than relying on an identical template for every organisation.
If you need a bespoke legal register for your business detailing your obligations, please contact one of our team.
Will a legal register guarantee that I pass my ISO audit?
No. An effective legal register can support an ISO management system, but certification depends on the organisation meeting the applicable requirements of the standard and demonstrating that its management system is effectively implemented. The register is one component of a broader system of compliance and management controls.
If you need a bespoke legal register for your business detailing your obligations, please contact one of our team.
Can a legal register help me prepare for an ISO audit?
Yes. A well-maintained legal register can provide useful documented evidence that applicable legal and other requirements have been identified and controlled. It can also help auditors understand how the organisation identifies its compliance obligations. However, an auditor will normally consider the wider management system and evidence of implementation and compliance, not the register alone.
If you need a bespoke legal register for your business detailing your obligations, please contact one of our team.
Can you keep my legal register up to date?
Yes. A legal register can be provided as a maintained service rather than a one-off document. An ongoing service can include monitoring relevant legislative developments, assessing their relevance to the organisation and updating the register when appropriate. We not only provide an update document by email but we also update your legal register, so that is something you will not need to do yourself. The precise maintenance arrangements should be agreed according to the client’s requirements.
If you need a bespoke legal register for your business detailing your obligations, please contact one of our team.
What happens if a law changes after my legal register has been completed?
The change should be reviewed to determine whether it applies to the organisation and whether action is required. Where appropriate, the register should be amended and relevant personnel informed. Any resulting changes to procedures, controls, training, permits or other compliance arrangements should also be considered.
If you need a bespoke legal register for your business detailing your obligations, please contact one of our team.
How do I know if my legal register is up to date?
A current register should be supported by a documented process for monitoring relevant legislative changes. Evidence may include revision dates, update histories, legislative change notifications or other records showing that changes have been considered. Simply having a recent date on the document does not, by itself, demonstrate that all relevant legislative developments have been identified.
If you need a bespoke legal register for your business detailing your obligations, please contact one of our team.
How often should my legal register be updated?
A legal register should be maintained through a defined review and legislative-monitoring process. There is no universal interval that is appropriate for every organisation. The appropriate frequency depends on factors including the organisation’s activities, jurisdictions, legislative change and management-system requirements. Reviews should also be triggered by significant changes to the organisation or its operations.
If you need a bespoke legal register for your business detailing your obligations, please contact one of our team.
Can a legal register cover the Isle of Man?
Yes. The Isle of Man has its own legislative and regulatory framework. A bespoke register for an organisation operating there should therefore identify the Manx requirements relevant to its activities rather than relying solely on UK legislation.
If you need a bespoke legal register for your business detailing your obligations, please contact one of our team.
Can a legal register cover the Republic of Ireland?
Yes. A register for an organisation operating in the Republic of Ireland should be based on the Irish legislative and regulatory framework applicable to its activities. Irish requirements should not simply be assumed to be identical to those applying in the United Kingdom.
If you need a bespoke legal register for your business detailing your obligations, please contact one of our team.
Can you provide legal registers for businesses operating in different countries?
Yes. Legal registers can be developed for organisations operating across multiple jurisdictions. Each jurisdiction needs to be considered separately because the applicable legislation, regulatory authorities and legal terminology may differ. A multi-jurisdiction register should make those distinctions clear.
If you need a bespoke legal register for your business detailing your obligations, please contact one of our team.
Can you provide a legal register for more than one site?
Yes. A multi-site legal register can identify requirements that apply across the organisation while also identifying site-specific requirements. This can be particularly useful where sites have different activities, equipment, environmental aspects, permits or local regulatory requirements.
If you need a bespoke legal register for your business detailing your obligations, please contact one of our team.
Why should I have a bespoke legal register rather than a generic one?
A generic register cannot reliably determine which requirements apply to an individual business. A bespoke register is developed around the organisation’s circumstances and therefore provides a more targeted compliance resource. It can also be structured around the organisation’s management system, responsibilities and operational controls.
If you need a bespoke legal register for your business detailing your obligations, please contact one of our team.
Can you create a legal register specifically for my business?
Yes. A genuinely bespoke legal register should be based on the organisation’s actual activities, processes, premises, equipment, services and geographical locations. This enables the register to focus on requirements that are relevant to the client rather than presenting a generic list of legislation that may contain substantial amounts of irrelevant information.
If you need a bespoke legal register for your business detailing your obligations, please contact one of our team.
How much does a legal register cost?
The cost depends on the organisation’s size, activities, number of sites, jurisdictions and the scope of legislation that needs to be considered. A small organisation operating from one site may require a relatively focused register, whereas a multi-site or multi-jurisdiction organisation may require a considerably broader assessment and ongoing monitoring service. A bespoke quotation is therefore generally more appropriate than a standard fixed price.
If you need a bespoke legal register for your business detailing your obligations, please contact one of our team.
What is a bespoke legal register?
A bespoke legal register is a customised document that outlines specific health, safety, and environmental legislation applicable to your business. It is tailored to the jurisdictions where your business operates, ensuring compliance with local laws and regulations.
If you need a bespoke legal register for your business detailing your obligations, please contact one of our team.
How often should a legal register be updated?
Legal registers should be updated regularly to reflect any changes in legislation. The frequency of updates depends on the nature of your business and the jurisdictions in which you operate. Regular reviews ensure ongoing compliance and can prevent legal issues.
If you need a bespoke legal register for your business detailing your obligations, please contact one of our team.
What happens if my legal register is out of date?
If your legal register is out of date, your business may be at risk of non-compliance with current legislation. This can lead to penalties, legal action, or damage to your reputation. It’s crucial to regularly review and update your legal register to avoid these risks.
If you need a bespoke legal register for your business detailing your obligations, please contact one of our team.
ISO Standards
Do I need a legal register for ISO 9001?
ISO 9001 requires organisations to determine applicable statutory and regulatory requirements relating to their products and services. It does not expressly require a document called a legal register. However, maintaining a structured register or equivalent documented information can help an organisation identify and control relevant statutory and regulatory requirements.
If you need a bespoke legal register for your business detailing your obligations, please contact one of our team.
Do I need a legal register for ISO 45001?
ISO 45001 requires organisations to establish processes for determining and accessing applicable legal and other requirements relating to occupational health and safety. A legal register can provide a clear and controlled record of those requirements and can support subsequent compliance evaluation and audit activities.
If you need a bespoke legal register for your business detailing your obligations, please contact one of our team.
Do I need a legal register for ISO 14001?
ISO 14001 requires an organisation to determine and have access to applicable compliance obligations and to determine how those obligations apply to its environmental aspects. The standard does not specifically require a document called a legal register, but a properly structured legal register is a practical way of maintaining this information and supporting the environmental management system.
If you need a bespoke legal register for your business detailing your obligations, please contact one of our team.
What is ISO 9001?
ISO 9001 is an international standard for Quality Management Systems. It sets criteria for a quality management system and is based on principles such as customer focus, leadership, and continual improvement. Implementing ISO 9001 helps organisations ensure they meet customer and regulatory requirements.
If you need a bespoke legal register for your business detailing your obligations, please contact one of our team.
How do I implement ISO 9001 in my organisation?
Implementing ISO 9001 involves several steps including understanding the standard’s requirements, conducting a gap analysis, developing a quality management system, and undergoing an external audit for certification. Seeking expert guidance can streamline the process and ensure success.
If you need a bespoke legal register for your business detailing your obligations, please contact one of our team.
What does an ISO 14001 legal register need to contain?
An ISO 14001 legal register should contain all relevant environmental legislation applicable to your organisation. It includes laws, regulations, and other requirements that affect your environmental management system. Keeping this register up to date is crucial for maintaining certification.
If you need a bespoke legal register for your business detailing your obligations, please contact one of our team.
Health & Safety
Do you cover UK health and safety legislation?
A specialist legal register service can cover the health and safety legislation applicable to the organisation’s activities and locations within the United Kingdom. The precise requirements depend on the activities being undertaken and the jurisdiction concerned, including the applicable legal framework in Great Britain and, where relevant, Northern Ireland.
If you need a bespoke legal register for your business detailing your obligations, please contact one of our team.
What are the main food safety laws in the UK?
The main food safety laws in the UK include the Food Safety Act 1990, Food Hygiene Regulations 2006, and the Food Safety and Hygiene (England) Regulations 2013. These laws cover the safe preparation, handling, and storage of food to protect consumers.
If you need a bespoke legal register for your business detailing your obligations, please contact one of our team.
What is RIDDOR?
RIDDOR stands for the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations. It requires employers to report certain workplace incidents, diseases, and dangerous occurrences to the relevant authorities. This helps to maintain safe working environments.
If you need a bespoke legal register for your business detailing your obligations, please contact one of our team.
How can I ensure fire safety in my business?
Ensuring fire safety involves conducting regular risk assessments, installing and maintaining fire detection systems, providing staff training, and having clear evacuation procedures. Compliance with fire safety regulations is essential for protecting employees and property.
If you need a bespoke legal register for your business detailing your obligations, please contact one of our team.
Risk Management
What is risk management?
Risk management is the process of identifying, assessing, and controlling threats to an organisation’s capital and earnings. These risks could stem from various sources, including financial uncertainties, legal liabilities, strategic management errors, accidents, and natural disasters.
If you need a bespoke legal register for your business detailing your obligations, please contact one of our team.
How can I improve my organisation’s risk management?
Improving risk management involves regularly reviewing and updating risk assessments, implementing effective control measures, and fostering a culture of risk awareness within the organisation. Engaging with risk management consultants can provide expert insights and strategies.
If you need a bespoke legal register for your business detailing your obligations, please contact one of our team.
What role do consultants play in risk management?
Consultants provide expert advice and support in developing and implementing risk management strategies. They help identify potential risks, assess their impact, and recommend practical solutions to mitigate them, ensuring that organisations remain resilient and compliant.
If you need a bespoke legal register for your business detailing your obligations, please contact one of our team.
Environment
Does my small business need to comply with waste regulations?
Under United Kingdom law, waste management, environmental protection, and environmental permitting are recognized regulatory areas. However, an organisation’s specific legal obligations depend on its unique activities, premises, processes, equipment, and operational circumstances. All businesses, regardless of size, have basic legal duties to manage, safely store and transfer their waste to a registered waste carrier or licensed recycling or disposal site. There are additional requirements to keep records of such transfers.
If you need a bespoke legal register for your business detailing your obligations, please contact one of our team.
Do you cover UK environmental legislation?
Yes. A bespoke environmental legal register can identify relevant environmental legislation and other legally binding requirements applicable to the organisation. The scope may include areas such as waste, emissions, water, pollution prevention, environmental permitting and hazardous substances, depending on the organisation’s activities.
If you need a bespoke legal register for your business detailing your obligations, please contact one of our team.
