Lawyer - Data Privacy Advice in Wilmslow

Salary

£57,815 - £65,021 pa, with potential for progression to £73,211 pa via our pay progression scheme.

Location

Hybrid

Contracted to our Wilmslow, London, Edinburgh, Cardiff or Belfast office.

Flexible home and office-based working opportunities.

Occasional attendance at the office or travel may be required to collaborate with colleagues or for business needs.

Why work for the ICO?

• Hybrid and flexible working options.
• 25 days paid holiday per year, plus privilege and public holidays.
• Flexi leave (up to 26 additional days per year).
• Pension (employer contribution around 28.9%).
• Online discount scheme with major supermarkets, retailers, gyms, restaurants, insurance providers and more.
• Health Cash Plan.
• Fantastic development opportunities to learn and progress.

Further details can be found in the benefits section of our website.

The postholder will join at a pivotal moment for the organisation and the UK’s information rights framework.

The ICO is evolving into the Information Commission, with refreshed priorities and a new corporate strategy.

The ICO Legal Service plays a central role in delivering this strategic ambition.

As a lawyer, you will work within the ICO Legal Service (Data Privacy Advice team) on high-profile data protection and cyber matters, providing quality, timely and risk-based legal advice in relation to the UK GDPR, DPA 2018, FOIA 2000, PECR 2003 and NIS 2018.

You will act under the direction of the Executive Team and the senior legal leadership, under the supervision of the General Counsel.

You will provide technical legal support across the organisation and may supervise other lawyers and staff within the Legal team, and work with external lawyers where appropriate.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide high quality, timely and risk-based legal advice on queries across the ICO.
• Offer expert advice to decision makers on possible solutions, options and issues to consider.
• Manage a caseload of ongoing legal issues/cases/queries in line with ICO standards, policy and regulatory priorities.
• Ensure ICO guidance is legally accurate and reflects current legislation.
• Liaise with case officers, managers and decision makers on ongoing legal matters and work as part of project teams as necessary.
• Represent the ICO externally at key meetings, events, court/tribunal hearings (where appropriate) and public speaking engagements.
• Contribute to colleagues’ development by delivering in-house training as required.
• Oversee the legal aspects of the workflow of support staff and ensure work is performed to required standards.

Person specification

Essential criteria assessed at application stage

• Qualified to practise as a Solicitor, Barrister or Chartered Legal Executive in England and Wales; or has an equivalent qualification and may undertake the Solicitors’ Qualifying Examinations within a defined period.
• Current practising certificate (or entitlement to obtain one) from the Law Society or Bar Council.
• Post-qualification experience in information law or ability to develop expertise quickly in this area.
• Experience providing strategic legal advice in a regulatory environment and knowledge of public law principles.
• Experience liaising with and instructing external lawyers and other organisations.

Essential criteria assessed during interview

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to interpret and apply legislation to specific situations.
• Ability to assimilate information quickly and make sound legal decisions.
• Excellent legal analytical skills.
• Ability to manage own workload effectively, particularly in a pressurised environment.
• Understanding of the regulatory environment and the public sector generally.
• Equality, diversity, and inclusion

The ICO is committed to promoting equality, diversity and inclusion.

We aim to build a representative workforce and an inclusive workplace where colleagues can make a real difference.

We support this through our Equality Diversity and Inclusion Board and staff networks.

Read more about our commitment on our website.

Candidates with a disability who meet the minimum criteria will be invited to interview as part of the ICO’s Disability Confident Scheme.

If you require an alternative application method, please email the HR team at the address provided.

Closing Date

Please submit your CV and cover letter detailing your suitability by 23:59 on Wednesday 15th July 2026.

Your cover letter should be no more than 1,000 words and clearly demonstrate how you meet the essential criteria.

We may close this vacancy early if we receive a high volume of applications.

If you require any reasonable adjustments, please contact us.

Interviews are planned for w/c 10th August 2026.

All candidates who meet the minimum criteria will be considered under our guaranteed interview scheme for disabled and ethnic minority applicants.

• Clearance required for this role: BPSS
• #J-18808-Ljbffr