Knowledge Barrister - #2121808

GOVERNMENT LEGAL DEPARTMENT

Information Lawyers with Ministry of Justice Legal Advisers

Location: London, Manchester, Leeds, Bristol or Croydon

Contract: Permanent

Salary: £61,200 London/Croydon £59,200 National. Under 3 years PQE: £51,541 London/Croydon/National

Much more than law

The Government Legal Department (GLD) is the largest provider of legal services across government, working with all the main Whitehall departments. From energy to security, and from roads and rivers to health and human rights, our work touches on most aspects of public life. Developing and drafting legislation, helping to secure economic and trade relationships, providing legal advice on polices and ensuring value from contracts, our work is as varied as it is stimulating.

Ministry of Justice Legal Advisers (MOJLA) provides legal advice on all aspects of the justice system to the Ministry of Justice and the Lord Chancellor. Working in a supportive environment that encourages collaboration and the development of knowledge and expertise, we also draft secondary legislation, work on government bills and defend challenges in Judicial Review litigation.

MOJLA is made up of five advisory teams – the Criminal Law, Victims and Sentencing team, the Human Rights, Private International Law and Legal Services team, the Civil, Family and Courts and Tribunals team, the Offender Management team, and the Judicial, Coroners and Access to Justice team.

Your role

When you bring your skills and experience as an Information Lawyer to MOJLA, you’ll join our small and friendly Human Rights, Private International Law and Legal Services team. We advise on a wide variety of work, often with an international dimension, and you’ll have the opportunity to focus on high-profile issues involving data protection, privacy and freedom of information. Offering clear, practical legal advice to His Majesty’s Court Service, His Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service and other branches of the Ministry of Justice, your work will support compliance and help shape policy.

Advising on Freedom of Information Act requests and related disclosure issues, and drafting and reviewing data sharing agreements, data processing contracts and related documentation, you’ll also support your colleagues on information governance, records management and retention policies. In addition, we’ll expect you to work with internal teams and external stakeholders to manage legal risk and ensure compliance, and keep up to date with the latest developments in information law, with a particular focus on emerging issues such as AI.

About you

To be a success in this fast-paced role you should be highly motivated, committed to your professional growth, and familiar with the UK’s GDPR legislation, the Data Protection Act and the Freedom of Information Act. Capable of interpreting complex legislation and providing clear, practical advice, you’ll possess strong drafting skills, the ability to communicate in plain English, excellent organisational skills and be ready to manage competing priorities. You’ll be working with a diverse range of colleagues and stakeholders, so you should also have strong interpersonal skills and a collaborative approach to your work. Experience of advising on information governance and records management would be desirable, as would knowledge of emerging issues such as AI, cybersecurity and digital services regulation.

You should be a qualified Solicitor, Barrister or Chartered Legal Executive in England and Wales, and will have completed a training contract, pupillage or qualifying employment, or been exempted from this by the Law Society, the Bar Council or CILEx. You’ll also need a minimum of a 2.1 honours degree in any subject in your first degree (or its overseas equivalent), or evidence of high-level academic or professional achievement, such as a Graduate Diploma in Law, Legal Practice Course or Bar Professional Training Course, any of which must be underpinned by practical experience. Chartered Legal Executives are eligible to apply where a qualifying law degree is held or the Graduate Diploma in Law has been completed, or where CILEx Level 6 exams have been passed at 50% or above in Contract Law, Criminal Law, Equity and Trusts Law, European Union Law, Land Law, Public Law and the Law of Tort.

All GLD employees must hold Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS) vetting. If your application is successful you must also hold or be willing to obtain CTC level clearance. More information about the vetting process can be found here.

Benefits

While your previous experience may be relevant, Government work is likely to involve a rapid learning curve as you acquire a number of legal skills and knowledge not required in private practice. However, we will provide you with the support you’ll need to acquire the necessary expertise, and have a thriving CPD-accredited in-house training programme.

GLD encourages its people to develop their skills in a nurturing environment. Other benefits include access to a valuable civil service pension and flexible working arrangements.

Our vision is to be an outstanding legal organisation and a brilliant place to work where everyone can thrive and fulfil their potential. This is an exciting time for GLD, with cutting edge legal work on global issues and a transformation agenda which is ensuring the Department exemplifies the Modern Civil Service.