Lawyer (Regulatory Advice and Commercial Directorate)

Wilmslow, Cheshire

Starting salary: Expected to be in the range of £45,697 to £58,870

What role could you play in influencing the changing privacy and information rights landscape?

Our work as the UK’s privacy and information rights regulator has never been more important. We hold a unique position as a regulator across the whole of the private, public and third sectors.

We operate across the United Kingdom but have an international impact. For example, we work with data protection authorities across the world to share information and best practice as well as conduct joint investigations and enforcement actions

About us

The ICO is an independent public body; we uphold information rights in the public interest, promoting openness by public bodies and data privacy for individuals. We educate organisations, promote good practice and are involved with important issues from intrusive technology, nuisance calls/texts to the use of surveillance cameras.

We operate across the United Kingdom but have an international impact. For example, we work with data protection authorities across the world to share information and best practice as well as conduct joint investigations and enforcement actions.

The arrival of the GDPR and Data Protection Act 2018, has meant huge change for the regulator and we are currently strengthening and expanding our team to meet our new obligations and provide excellent public services under our increased regulatory remit.

About the role

The ICO is at the heart of so many issues of national importance and these are exciting and challenging times for information rights.

As Lawyer (Regulatory Advice and Commercial) your role will include providing high quality legal advice and services on a variety of matters from across the ICO. The nature of your work will depend on your area of expertise and interest. It may cover either or both information law queries, and/or contracts and procurement matters.

Other duties include:

• Effectively managing a caseload of ongoing legal matters and projects
• Providing expert advice in your areas of responsibility
• Advising on guidance to be published by the ICO, to help ensure that it is legally accurate and reflects current legislation
• Participating on behalf of the ICO at meetings, events and court/tribunal hearings
• Providing guidance and assistance to other ICO lawyers and instructing external lawyers on key matters

About you

You will have a recognised professional qualification as a Barrister or Solicitor, or as a Chartered Legal Executive in England and Wales. If you qualified outside of England and Wales, you must have an appropriate equivalent professional qualification.  If you are a Chartered Legal Executive you must have at least 2 years post qualification experience. If you are qualified outside the UK you may be required to undertake the QLTT within a defined period.

We need individuals with experience of managing their own work load effectively, particularly in a pressurised environment.

Knowledge of information law, commercial law and/or procurement law would be advantageous, as would experience of the regulatory environment. What is more important is your ability and willingness to learn and develop your expertise.

We would welcome candidates from private practice firms, in-house legal teams or from other public sector organisations.

How to apply

Please upload a copy of your CV along with a covering letter which explains both why you are attracted to this post and why you are the right person for us. Please limit your covering letter to no more than one page. For further information and to apply please visit:

hays.co.uk/jobs/ico

For a confidential discussion contact:

Rebecca Large T 0161 228 7770 

The closing date for applications is 12 noon, Wednesday 16^th October, 2019