Practical Advice for Law Professionals on Destruction and Recycling

As a busy law professional, you will be acutely aware of the risks of data protection and handling confidential material safely.

With hybrid working having changed staff habits and the risk of cyber threats growing, increased recognition of the issues led a 2022 PwC survey to show a 55% increase in security spend year on year among the top 100 law firms.

Working with a range of law professionals, ShredPro help by specialising in the destruction and recycling of court documents, police reports, contracts, property deeds, witness statements, financial reports and accounts, payroll and HR records, supplier contracts, client contracts, internal audits, staff rotas, contact information and much more – the list is nearly endless.

With so much sensitive information being stored, it is essential to ensure that the information kept is properly disposed of when it’s no longer needed to comply with relevant regulations, such as the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).

The stakes are high for companies which cannot maintain compliance and face the consequences. For the largest companies there have been eye watering penalties. Internet giant Meta’s EU base in Ireland was fined €1.2bn by the European Data Protection Board (EDPB) for breaching the flagship data protection law.

Ensuring your company carries out good practice around document destruction and recycling will help prevent you falling foul of the regulations.

How we help

ShredPro is a professional shredding company delivering secure, efficient and cost-effective shredding and recycling services for a range of customers.

Whether you are a firm of solicitors, a barristers’ chambers or an independent legal practitioner, we ensure you meet legal requirements on the collection, storing and certified destruction of confidential information.

Working to accredited levels, we ensure customers achieve the highest standards in the industry to ensure maximum protection of your confidential information while helping the planet, and recycling your shredding to reduce the demand for natural resources.

Legal Requirements

The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO), which oversees the enforcement of GDPR says:

“You must ensure that you have appropriate security measures in place to protect the personal data you hold.”

The ICO adds:

“Deleting records that you no longer need, or are not proportionate to retain any longer, is an essential part of a good records management system.”

With unrivalled experience of supporting legal clients, ShredPro can ensure you meet all requirements.

Practical steps you can take

Here are some tips for law professionals looking to stay safe in a fast-moving world:

1. Identify your confidential documents: Not all documents are the same, as some documents contain more sensitive information than others. It is vitally important to identify your confidential documents so that you can properly destroy them. ShredPro can help you put together an effective document destruction and recycling policy to ensure best practice.
2. Shred your confidential documents: Shredding is the most secure way to destroy confidential documents. With multiple locations, including home working, as well as changing volumes in documents to be disposed of, partnering with professionals like ShredPro ensures your data is destroyed first time and with a certificate of destruction to prove it.
3. Designate responsible parties: Who within the organisation will be responsible? This could include employees in the IT department, the legal department, or the facilities department. An identified person in every section of the business can share responsibility.
4. Promote a positive work environment: Complying with data regulations is not about scaring colleagues. Encourage them to take responsibility to play their part in a supportive culture where people are encouraged, not frightened.
5. Recycle your non-confidential documents: Not all documents need to be shredded. Non-confidential documents can be recycled. However, it is important to train and supervise colleagues to remove any confidential information from these documents before recycling them.
6. Factor in the practicalities of recycling: The easier it is for employees to recycle, the more likely they are to do it. Make sure that your recycling bins are located in convenient places and that they are clearly labelled. Colleagues also need to know why recycling is important and how to do it properly. You can educate them through posters, flyers, and training sessions.

7. Review your progress regularly: As your company’s needs change, you may need to update your approach. A regular review with a partner like ShredPro can help you evaluate your progress.

If you are a legal professional looking for a paper shredding company that can provide you with a high-quality of service through to a certificate of destruction, contact us today. We offer a variety of paper shredding services to fit your needs, and we’re committed to protecting your data.

Guarantee

We offer a 100% satisfaction guarantee on all of our paper shredding services. We are confident that you will be happy with our services.

Customer Testimonial

“ShredPro look after several of our sites throughout the Midlands, they are a professional, reliable and friendly shredding company who provide us with a first-class shredding service. The cabinets that they place around our facilities are secure and blend in well with our surroundings. I would recommend this shredding company to anyone who needs a cost-effective service for their confidential waste needs.”

Graham George
Bravton Mercedes Group