Information Governance Solicitor in Gateshead

Minimum 40% of time spent in the office, Civic Centre, Gateshead. Where Your Legal Expertise Shapes How The Organisation Works. Who we are & what we stand for

Do you want to help make Gateshead a place where everyone thrives? If that sounds like you, keep reading – we might be the perfect match.

We’re delighted that you’re interested in working with us. You’d be joining us at a very exciting time.

We pride ourselves on our ambitious and forward‑thinking approach to taking care of Gateshead and its people, and we passionately believe that our employees reflect that spirit in truly enabling Gateshead to thrive.

At Gateshead Council you’d be a highly valued member of a team that recognises and respects the skills that you bring to your role, encourages creativity and passionately advocates a great work / life balance. Our actions speak louder than words, and with flexi‑time and hybrid working available across many of our roles, as well as a full suite of outstanding employee benefits, we’re confident that it isn’t just the salary that attracts our staff.

Advance your legal career through varied, meaningful challenges.

Our Legal team provides comprehensive advice and support across both contentious and noncontentious matters, helping to ensure lawful, robust, and highquality decisionmaking across the organisation. The team covers a broad portfolio of specialist areas, including Commercial and Regulatory Law, Litigation, and Property, Planning and Highways. The team plays a vital role in enabling effective service delivery and protecting Gateshead Council\’s interests. This is a dynamic, solutionsfocused team supporting colleagues at every level.

Lead the way on responsible information management.

Are you an experienced legal professional with a passion for clear decisionmaking and strong information management? We’re looking for an Information Governance Specialist to join our Legal Services team, where you’ll provide highquality legal advice across constitutional and information governance matters. In this varied and purposeful role, you’ll help shape how the Council operates, support officers and elected Members and ensure information is handled lawfully and responsibly. If you’re motivated by meaningful work, enjoy complex legal problemsolving, and want to contribute to a wellgoverned, forwardthinking organisation, this role offers a fantastic opportunity to make an impact.

What You\’ll Get To Do

• Be fully conversant with the legislation, regulations and procedures in respect of information governance matters and to be aware of changes to the same to ensure accurate and effective advice is provided, in particular on the impact of such changes on the delivery of Council services and functions.
• Be responsible for reviewing and advising on the disclosure, provision and sharing of information and documentation.
• Provide legal advice in response to queries raised by officers or Councillors, and in particular legal governance advice, and to write and provide legal comments on reports to Cabinet, Cabinet members, Council Committees and chief officers. Undertaking legal research on questions arising from the work of the Governance team.
• Ensure a high level of accuracy is maintained and data and reports are produced as and when required.
• Provide advice, training and support to elected Members and officers on information governance matters, including producing content for the Council’s intranet and learning and development platform.
• Providing responses to freedom of information, environment information and subject access requests, requests from Members of Parliament and in response to Ombudsman, Information Commissioner or other regulators and providing legal advice and assistance to other officers dealing with these matters.
• Maintain close liaison with client services, Monitoring and Deputy Monitoring Officers, Data Protection Officer and Governance Manager on all relevant issues.
• Liaise with internal and external professionals as required.

What You\’ll Bring

• Qualified solicitor, barrister or fellow of the Chartered Institute of Legal Executives with a current practicing certificate
• A solid understanding of key legislation, including the Local Government Act 1972, Local Government & Housing Act 1989, Localism Act 2011, Data Protection Act 2018, and related regulations, helping you provide confident, accurate advice across the organisation.
• Practical experience in legal practice and procedure, ideally within a local government or public sector setting.
• A background in providing specialist information governance advice, offering clear and wellreasoned guidance.
• Experience managing your own caseload, with the ability to prioritise effectively and work independently.
• Strong drafting and interpretation skills, enabling you to handle complex documentation with clarity and precision.
• Excellent communication abilities, with the confidence to engage with colleagues, stakeholders, and elected members in a clear and professional way.

What’s In It For You

• Competitive Salary: We offer fair and transparent pay that reflects your skills and experience.
• Outstanding Pension Scheme: We don’t just offer a great salary we invest in your future too. Find out what benefits a Local Government Pension provides: https://twpf.info
• Generous Annual Leave: Enjoy 28 days of annual leave, rising to 32 days after 5 years (2 of which can be fixed by the Council), plus the option to buy up to 10 extra days.
• Flexible Working Hours: Benefit from up to 26 flexi days per year (subject to business needs), giving you more control over your time.
• Hybrid & Flexible Working: We support a healthy work‑life balance with flexible and hybrid working options.
• Learning & Development: Access a wide range of training, development, and progression opportunities to help you grow your career.
• Health & Wellbeing Support: From discounted gym memberships through our partner GLL to mental health resources, we care about your wellbeing.
• Cycle to Work Scheme: Save money and stay active with our tax‑efficient cycle to work programme.
• Electric & Hybrid Car Scheme: Get behind the wheel of a brand‑new electric or hybrid vehicle through our salary sacrifice car scheme in partnership with NHS Fleet Solutions a cost‑effective, environmentally friendly way to drive (after 12 months service).
• Exclusive Discounts & Salary Sacrifice: Through our VIVUP employee benefits platform, enjoy discounts on shopping, travel, and services plus salary sacrifice options on white goods, electronics, and more, helping you spread the cost of essential purchases (after 6 months service).

Our commitment to you

We are an equal opportunities employer and aim to have a culture and a workplace where our people feel a sense of belonging, are respected and empowered to do their best work. We know that we deliver better services when our workforce reflects the full range of backgrounds and experiences in the society we serve. We welcome applications from suitably qualified people from all sections of the community, regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, and sexual orientation.

How To Apply

You can apply online using the apply now button below. Within the form, you’ll be asked for details about you, your career history, skills, experiences and qualifications.

We advise you to be as detailed and specific as possible, paying particular attention to any of the above which are relevant to the role to which you are applying.

If you have any questions about your application, please don’t hesitate to reach out to our recruitment team via . Alternatively, if you’d like an informal discussion about the role then please get in touch with Roddy Currie, our Service Manager on , or call 0191 433 2141.

Please note:

As a Disability Confident employer, we guarantee an interview to all disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria for the role. However, in high-volume recruitment situations, it may not always be practicable to interview every eligible candidate. In such cases, we may need to prioritise those who best meet the essential criteria, based on the information provided in the application.

Additionally, the Council reserves the right to close this vacancy early or adjust the shortlisting criteria, including the pass mark for interview selection, to ensure a fair and manageable recruitment process. We encourage early applications.

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