Data and Information Lawyer

Job summary

About the Government Legal Department

From healthcare to artificial intelligence, energy to national security, we provide legal advice to government departments on nation-changing subjects.

At Government Legal Department we have a vital, single-minded purpose: to help the Government govern well within the rule of law. This is complemented by our exciting vision to be an outstanding legal organisation, committed to the highest standards of service and professionalism and a brilliant place to work where we can all thrive and fulfill our potential.

Our work touches almost every aspect of public life. We are the largest provider of legal services across government, working on high profile matters.

Our respected professionals are involved in everything from regulation and litigation to advice on drafting legislation. They provide expertise to the full range of government departments. We are at the heart of delivering the government’s priorities and our success depends on our people.

GLD is a non-ministerial government department headed by the Treasury Solicitor, our Permanent Secretary, and employs nearly 4000 people, including nearly 3000 legal professionals. We have offices nationwide, in Bristol, Leeds, inner and outer London and Manchester. Our lawyers can also be located within other departments and overseas.

GLD also depends on a range of cross-functional professionals to provide our corporate services. There are nearly 1000 colleagues playing an essential part in helping GLD to achieve its purpose and truly deliver much more than law.

This is an exciting time to join GLD, with cutting edge legal work on global issues and a transformation agenda which is ensuring the Department exemplifies the Modern Civil Service.

To find out more about what we do you can view our introductory film. On our website you can hear from team members, find out how to apply and learn about the benefits of working for GLD. You can also read more about the future vision for GLD in our GLD Strategy 2024 – 2027.

Job description

About the GLD Teams

Successful candidates will have the opportunity to work in one of the following teams.

Allocation of successful candidates to vacancies will be carried out on the basis of business need and overall fit of experience and expertise. You will be given an opportunity to express any preferences you may have at the end of your interview. However please note that preferences cannot be guaranteed, we will confirm this with you if you are successful at interview. Offers will be made in strict merit order.

The teams with a current requirement for this legal specialism are:

The Digital, Information and Parenting Team in DWP Legal Advisers

Our team provides legal support to Ministers and officials in the Department for Work and Pensions. We are an inclusive, diverse team that provides advice on policy development, new legislation, all data and digital matters (including data sharing between DWP and other bodies), UKGDPR compliance, and the use of citizens’ data in the efficient provision of public services.

We also advise on cutting edge legal issues such as the use of artificial intelligence and automation and are at the heart of the way our client department manages legal risk in these evolving areas of law.

Our work frequently engages with issues related to public law, equalities and discrimination, freedom of information, human rights and international obligations. As a cross-cutting team we often work collaboratively with other legal teams advising the department and wider Government.

Technology, Data and International Law Enforcement Co-operation Team (HOLA)

The team advises the Home Office on Artificial Intelligence (AI), personal data, online harms, international judicial co-operation and relations with the EU.

The work of the team includes advising on policy measures addressing key societal challenges regarding the impact of AI and online harms and how the Government and law enforcement partners can respond to those, including how they use and protect personal data.

It also provides advice to the Home Office on how it and law enforcement partners co-operate and share information with European counterparts. The exact work allocation will depend on the experience and interests of the successful candidate and team priorities at the time of appointment.

DSIT and DCMS Legal Advisers

We are expert lawyers providing advice to Ministers and officials in the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) and the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport (DCMS). Our work covers a wide range of areas, including data protection, digital identity, digital infrastructure, digital policy, AI, cyber security, science, space, intellectual property, media, civil society, youth, culture, heritage, sport, gambling and tourism.

These roles will be in the Data and Digital Identity team and the Trade and International team primarily advising DSIT. These teams are responsible for advising on the fast-evolving areas of privacy and data, including the development of domestic and international data protection principles and policies. As well as the data work, we also advise on the creation of the new digital identity regime. We are consulted across government on difficult data protection issues and work closely with the Information Commissioner’s Office, the data protection regulator.

This is an opportunity to be involved in developing new policies and potentially new legislation for data protection and digital identity. You will be part of a highly specialised team who advises on novel and interesting areas of both domestic and international data protection from further processing to cookies to data adequacy for third countries. The work is high profile and intellectually challenging. The exact work allocation will depend on the experience and interests of the successful candidate and team priorities at the time of appointment.

About the Role

The successful candidates will already have experience of working in data law and wider information law, or (for some roles) wider information law practice. They will use this expertise to advise our client departments as part of teams of qualified lawyers advising on policy and operational aspects of data law and related matters.

Data is at the heart of everything government does. As a result, these roles are cross-cutting and the workload is varied. In addition to advising departmental Data Protection Officers and government digital specialists on operational matters, you will work with policy officials from the client departments to advise on policy and legislative options, often working collaboratively with lawyers across government. These roles require the ability to work independently, engaging directly with senior policy and operational colleagues. They provide an excellent opportunity to develop client relationship skills and deep specialist expertise in this exciting and developing area of law, in a fast-paced environment, advising the UK government.

The post-holder will advise on all legal aspects of data processing, data protection and data privacy matters, which may (depending on your team placement) include any of the following areas:

• Digital service design, data risk and governance.
• Data-related policy formulation (including delivery of legislation)
• Automation and Artificial Intelligence
• Data breaches, emergencies, and cyber incident response
• All aspects of data protection compliance, UKGDPR, Data Protection Act 2018/Data Use and Access Act 2025 and related matters
• Dealings with the Information Commissioner’s Office
• Litigation support to our GLD litigators on private law actions by data subjects, public law challenges and regulatory enforcement matters
• Data subject rights (including human rights)
• Data sharing
• International transfer agreements.

Government handling of citizens’ data can be high-profile and attract media attention. It can also provide the foundation for better and more efficient public services. Your team will provide solution-focused advice of the highest quality to our clients to help them accurately identify, assess, and mitigate risk and find practical solutions.

As all our work is carried out within a government context, public and administrative law is integral to everything we do. You must be willing also to develop public and administrative law skills (for which training will be provided) alongside data law specialism.

Career Offer

For some roles, travel may be required. If you join us with less than three years of post-qualification experience (PQE), your starting salary will be £51,541 per annum. This will increase to £63,189 (Croydon/London) or £61,124 (National) per annum once you have successfully completed your probation period and either reach three years of PQE or complete one year of service, whichever comes first.

While previous experience or knowledge may be relevant to some vacancies, Government work is likely to involve a rapid learning curve to acquire legal skills and knowledge not required in private practice. Strong intellectual and analytical skills are important. We will provide support to help you acquire the necessary expertise and have a thriving CPD-accredited in-house training programme.

GLD encourages its people to develop their skills and provides opportunities to move between advisory, litigation, employment and commercial law services during their careers.

For Newly Qualified lawyers with under one year’s experience, GLD operates a ‘2+2’ scheme, whereby these lawyers are allocated to two, 2-year postings over their first 4 years working with GLD; 2 years in a contentious team (litigation or employment), and a further 2 years in a non-contentious advisory post, or vice-versa. The scheme is voluntary and is intended to help Newly Qualified lawyers to develop a broader range of skills and stay ‘fresh’ in working on different areas of law and in new environments.

Person specification

Behaviours

Below are details of the Success Profiles that make up this role. Demonstrating all the behaviours listed below is essential at either application or interview. You can read more about Success Profiles and how they are used as an assessment method before completing your application.

We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:

• Making Effective Decisions (lead behaviour)
• Working Together
• Communicating and Influencing
• Managing a Quality Service

Key Skills and Experience

Essential – must be demonstrated at application and interview

• Significant legal advisory experience in the specialist area of UK information/data law
• Strong client care and communication skills
• Ability to manage own practice and workload
• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment handling urgent matters and emergencies to hard deadlines
• Interest in/willingness to develop skills in public law in the government context

Desirable - will be used when there is a need to distinguish between candidates who are closely tied or the same after the initial consideration of essential criteria, at sift and / or interview.

• Experience in or exposure to public and administrative law

Technical Legal Skills

Essential – must be demonstrated at application and interview

• Specialist knowledge of UK data law or wider UK information law
• Reliable legal judgement and appreciation of legal risk
• The ability to think strategically and creatively, see legal issues in their wider context and advise accordingly. The ability to conduct sound analysis and use secure legal research to produce timely and fit for purpose advice
• The ability to communicate advice effectively both in writing and orally
• Demonstrate an understanding of the role of lawyers in government

Security Clearance Level

All GLD employees must hold BPSS. If successful for this post you must hold or be willing to obtain SC level clearance for this role. You can start this position while obtaining this clearance level, however continued appointment will be conditional upon obtaining the required security clearance. More information can be found about the vetting and clearance levelsbefore completing your application.

Sponsorship and Visas

There is the possibility that GLD can provide sponsorship for skilled workers, as long as they meet the eligibility criteria set down under current immigration legislation. GLD does not guarantee sponsorshipwill be provided or that an applicant will be successful in gaining a skilled worker visa.

It is the responsibility of the applicant to ensure that they meet the criteria for sponsorship. They also have the responsibility to notify the Resourcing Team that they require Sponsorship at the start of the onboarding process into GLD. This applies to existing civil servants as well as external candidates.

Candidate Information Session

We will be holding a candidate information session for these roles on Microsoft Teams from 10:00am – 11:00am on 27th April 2026.

Candidates will have the opportunity to hear from Lawyers about what they do and their experiences working for government. There will also be an opportunity to ask questions about the role.

If you are interested in further information on this role, please join the link below:

Join the meeting now

Meeting ID: 321 736 303 671 911

Passcode: YR9AS92t

Qualifications

Academic and Professional

Applicants should have a minimum of a 2:1 honours degree in their first degree (in any subject). Where an applicant holds an overseas degree qualification this should be equivalent to a 2.1 degree. GLD will consider applicants who do not have a 2.1 degree but only where satisfactory evidence of equivalent high level academic and/or professional achievement can be provided (e.g. via relevant experience and results achieved for the Graduate Diploma in Law (GDL)/CPE, Legal Practice Course (LPC), Bar Professional Training Course (BPTC)).

Applicants must be qualified to practise as a Solicitor, Barrister or Chartered Legal Executive in England and Wales however, we also accept applications from overseas qualified candidates. You must have completed a training contract/pupillage/qualifying employment or have been exempted from this by the Law Society, the Bar Council or CILEx.

Professional entry criteria for Chartered Legal Executives (i.e. Fellows): Chartered Legal Executives are eligible to apply where (i) a Qualifying Law Degree (QLD) is held; or (ii) the Graduate Diploma in Law (GDL)/CPE has been completed; or (iii) where exams have been passed (i.e. a score of 50% or above achieved), at CILEx Level 6*, in all of the following seven foundation subjects in law:

Contract Law
Criminal Law
Equity and Trusts Law
European Union Law
Land Law
Public Law
Law of Tort

*Note: There are specific requirements relating to academic achievement in the CILEx Level 6 exams where these are being used to demonstrate 2.1 degree equivalence as set out below.
Chartered Legal Executives should note that GLD will be willing to accept an, overall, average score of 65% or above across exams passed in the seven foundation subjects in law (where studied at CILEx Level 6) as demonstrating 2.1 degree equivalence (where a 2.1 degree is not held).

Behaviours

We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:

• Making Effective Decisions
• Working Together
• Communicating and Influencing

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £61,124, Government Legal Department contributes £17,707 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

• Learning and development tailored to your role
• An environment with flexible working options
• A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity
• A Civil Service pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%

Benefits of working for the Civil Service

Whatever your role, we take your career and development seriously, and want to enable you to build a really successful career with the Department and wider Civil Service. It is crucial that our employees have the right skills to develop their careers and meet the challenges ahead, and you’ll benefit from regular performance and development reviews to ensure this development is ongoing. As a Civil Service employee, you’ll be entitled to a large range of benefits.

Learning and Development at GLD

GLD has a comprehensive learning and development offer for all employees.

We offer a programme of in-person/hybrid and virtual sessions providing learning on profession-specific, soft skills, technical skills, and different topics. We also support colleagues through a range of different professional qualifications.

Cross-Functional Professional

We support all Professions with building their careers and capability aligning with the wider Civil Service offerings for each Profession.

There are also talent and development opportunities offered throughout the year these include:

Senior Leaders and Future Leaders Schemes – cross Civil Service accelerated development schemes.

Beyond Boundaries – cross government development programme designed to help participants develop the knowledge, skills and networks required to build a satisfying and effective career in the Civil Service.

Mentoring and Coaching – we encourage all colleagues to share their knowledge, capability, and experience.

Apprenticeships - We have a range of apprenticeships on offer across all professions with the opportunity for all employees to explore a profession specific apprenticeship to support their development in role.

Things you need to know

Artificial intelligence

Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance (opens in a new window) for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.

Selection process details

This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours, Strengths and Experience.

Application

To apply for this post, you will need to complete the online application on Civil Service Jobs, searching the reference below. The deadline for this application is 12:00 Midday onMonday 11th May 2026.

In your application you will be assessed on the following:

1. A CV setting out your career history, with key responsibilities and achievements. Please ensure you have provided reasons for any gaps within the last two years. The CV will be scored and assessed on the essential criteria of Key Skills and Experience and Technical Legal Skills set out in the person specification on slide 6.

2. A Statement of Suitability of no more than 1250 words demonstrating through your examples, how you meet the essential criteria of Key Skills and Experience, Technical Legal Skills in the person specification covering each of the 4 behaviours below;

• Making Effective Decisions (lead behaviour)
• Working Together
• Communicating and Influencing
• Managing a Quality Service

Please address each behaviour in your statement of suitability individually, under clear headings.

Application Errors

Please take extra care to tick the correct boxes in the eligibility sections of your application form. We understand mistakes sometimes happen but if you contact us later than two working days (Monday-Friday) before the vacancy closes, we will not be able to reopen your application for you. If you do make a mistake with your eligibility form, please contact us via: activecampaigns@governmentlegal.gov.uk . Use the subject line to insert appropriate wording for example – ‘Please re-open my application – [insert vacancy ref] & vacancy closing date [insert date]’.

Selection Process

After the closing date, the appointing panel shall assess candidates’ suitability for the role based on evidence provided in their application against the Key Skills and Experience, Technical Legal Skills and Behaviours outlined in the person specification.

STAGED-SIFT: If there are a large number of applications the panel will

conduct a staged sift. The initial sift will be on CV alone. If you meet the minimum criteria for the CV, you will then go on to a full sift on the Statement of Suitability.

In the eventuality that there are a high number of applicants successful at sift, GLD may operate a longlist, whereby applicants who have been shortlisted and met the minimum pass mark but are not selected for interview will have their application placed on hold. After the initial interview round candidates on the longlist may be offered an interview, should there still be posts available.

Written Exercise

If you are successful at sift, you will be invited to complete a Written Exercise. This will assess the behaviour Communicating and Influencing and Technical Legal Skills criteria and will last 60 minutes. Information will be shared week commencing 1st June 2026. For those that pass the written exercise, they will be invited to interview stage.

Interview

If you are invited to interview, you will be assessed on your performance in the criteria listed in the Person Specification, alongside scenario-based exercises and strength-based questions.

These criteria are:

Behaviours

• Making Effective Decisions (lead behaviour)
• Working Together
• Communicating and Influencing

Key Skills and Experience

Technical Legal Skills

Your interview will take place online.

Offer

The timeline later in this pack indicates the date by which decisions are expected to be made, and all shortlisted candidates will be advised of the outcome as soon as possible thereafter.

All communications regarding your application will be made through Civil Service Jobs.

All candidates will be notified of the outcome as soon as possible after the interview. Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview.

We appoint in strict order of merit. If you meet the minimum criteria for this position but are not successful for a post, you will be placed on the reserve list. We may contact you to see if you are interested in a post at the same, or a lower grade, in GLD should one arise.

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Nationality requirements

This job is broadly open to the following groups:

• UK nationals
• nationals of the Republic of Ireland
• nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
• Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service

Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.

We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window).The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy.

Diversity and Inclusion

The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see theCivil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window).

Apply and further information

This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans (opens in a new window) initiative.Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.

Contact point for applicants

Job contact :

• Name : People Scout
• Email : govqualified@tmpw.co.uk
• Telephone : 01179234417

Recruitment team

• Email : govqualified@tmpw.co.uk

Further information

You have the right to complain if you feel there has been a breach of the Recruitment Principles. If you feel that your application hasn’t been treated in accordance with these Principles and wish to make a complaint, please contact recruitment_feedback@governmentlegal.gov.uk in the first instance. Please title your email as follows: Job Reference Number – Job Title – Recruitment Complaint. Complaints must be submitted in writing within 30 days of the incident or the decision which has caused the complaint. To fully engage with the issues raised GLD require that you submit evidence of your complaint.

Attachments

456399 - Data and Information Lawyer - orig2 Opens in new window (pdf, 775kB)