General Counsel

time left to apply End Date: January 26, 2025 (15 days left to apply)

job requisition id JR419

General Counsel

Reports to: Deputy Chief Executive (Chief Operating Officer)

Salary: £116,155 – £141,007 pa, with potential for further progression to £165,858 pa with our pay progression scheme.

Location: Hybrid

Contracted to our Wilmslow, London, Edinburgh, Cardiff or Belfast office, however, we offer flexible home and office-based working opportunities. There will be regular times when you will be expected to attend the office to collaborate with colleagues or travel due to business need.

Closing date: 23:59 on Sunday 26 January 2025

This vacancy is being handled by our Executive Search Partner, Odgers Berndtson.

Job summary

The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) is the independent regulator of information rights – empowering people through information. In a data-driven world, we protect and safeguard the public by providing advice and enforcing the law, taking action where warranted. This includes providing advice, guidance, and support to organisations to enable compliance with legal obligations, responsible innovation and economic growth.

We currently have an exciting opportunity for a motivated and influential legal professional to take the reins as our Head of Legal Profession at the ICO.

As General Counsel, you will provide high level, risk based advice to the Commissioner, the ICO Management Board, the Executive Team and the organisation regarding legal matters which have strategic implications for all aspects of the work of the ICO as a regulator.

You will be central to the legal interpretation of all legislation overseen by the ICO and represent the Commissioner in a variety of legal environments both nationally and internationally.

As Head of Legal Profession for the ICO, you will provide leadership of the ICO’s legal service and wider legal profession.

The ICO also calls upon third party external legal expertise to enhance the capacity and capability of our in house Legal Service. The General Counsel ensures any providers of third party legal expertise are providing value for money and having the impact desired.

The ICO is usually represented by counsel in court proceedings, but the General Counsel may, on occasion, be required to represent the ICO if appropriate.

As an employer, we are passionate about making a positive difference to the lives and careers of our people, and we empower you to be curious, impactful, collaborative and respectful.

Person specification

1. Recognised professional qualification as a Barrister or Solicitor entitled to practice in England & Wales.
2. Current practising certificate from the Law Society or Bar Council.
3. At least 5 years’ experience in a senior legal position.
4. Experience of ensuring the provision of appropriate and effective representation in Tribunals, Higher Courts and/or other legal bodies.
5. Excellent interpersonal skills, with the ability to lead and motivate staff, and ensure adherence to professional standards.
6. Ability to influence internal and external stakeholders.
7. Excellent judgement and the ability to understand and assimilate information quickly, making sound reasoned legal decisions in complex or controversial circumstances.
8. The ability to provide timely and clear legal advice and provide possible solutions or options in response to complex problems.
9. Personal stature to be a credible public face for the organisation.
10. Post holders for this role will be required to receive security clearance to DV level. This requires the disclosure of spent and unspent convictions. Although convictions will be taken into account, any such information will not necessarily prevent you from obtaining a security clearance.

How to apply

In order to apply, please submit a comprehensive CV along with a covering letter / statement of suitability which sets out your interest in the role and encapsulates the aspects of your experience relevant to the required criteria.

The preferred method of application is online at:

If you are unable to apply online please email:

All applications will receive an automated response.

All candidates are also requested to complete an online Diversity Monitoring Form which will be found at the end of the application process. This will assist ICO in monitoring selection decisions to assess whether equality of opportunity is being achieved. Any information collated from the Diversity Monitoring Forms will not be used as part of the selection process and will be treated as strictly confidential.

For a conversation in confidence, please contact:

Odgers Berndtson are committed to ensuring everyone can access their website and application processes. This includes people with sight loss, hearing, mobility and cognitive impairments. Should you require access to these documents in alternative formats, please contact

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