Information Lawyer, MOJLA x 2

Job description

About the job

Job summary

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 Ministry of Justice Legal Advisers

Ministry of Justice Legal Advisers (MOJLA) provides legal advice and legal services to the Ministry of Justice and the Lord Chancellor, on all aspects of the justice system.

The Division includes 5 advisory teams including the Criminal Law, Victims and Sentencing team, the Human Rights, Private International Law and Legal Services team (HRPILLS), the Civil, Family and Courts and Tribunals team, the Offender Management team, and the Judicial, Coroners and Access to Justice team agency. MOJLA is an exciting and supportive environment, enabling the team to develop and thrive, providing advice on fascinating areas of law, drafting secondary legislation, working on Bills, and defending challenges in JR litigation.

The HRPILLS team is a small and friendly team consisting of 4 x G6 lawyers and 6 x G7 lawyers. We advise on a wide variety of work, often with an international flavour. This role would be working with 1x G6 lawyer and 1x G7 lawyer in the HRPILLS information law mini team, who provide advice on information law issues to the wider department.

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 £51,541.00 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.

The Role

We are looking for a motivated and skilled Information Lawyer to join our team. This is an exciting opportunity to work on high-profile issues involving data protection, privacy, and freedom of information. You will provide clear, practical legal advice to support compliance and help shape policy in a fast-moving environment.

The role will involve providing expert and cross cutting information law advice to MOJ, its operational bodies (including His Majesty's Court Service and His Majesty's Prison and Probation Service) and its Arm's Length Bodies. The successful candidate will be expected to be able to advise across the department on all aspects of information law including:

• Provide legal advice on data protection, privacy, and information law, including UK GDPR and the Data Protection Act 2018.
• Advise on Freedom of Information Act requests and related disclosure issues.
• Draft and review data sharing agreements, data processing contracts, and related documentation.
• Support colleagues on information governance, records management, and retention policies.
• Work with internal teams and external stakeholders to manage legal risk and ensure compliance.
• Keep up to date with developments in information law, including legal and governance implications of emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence and automated decision-making.

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:

• Delivering at pace
• Communicating and influencing
• Making effective decisions

Key Skills & Experience

Essential - must be demonstrated at application and/or interview

• Qualified solicitor, barrister, or legal executive (or equivalent experience).
• Experience of practising and competency in information law.
• Knowledge of UK GDPR, the Data Protection Act 2018 and the Freedom of Information Act 2000.
• Ability to interpret complex legislation and provide clear, practical advice.
• Strong drafting skills and ability to communicate in plain English.
• Excellent organisational skills and ability to manage competing priorities.
• Strong interpersonal skills and ability to work collaboratively with a range of stakeholders.

Desirable

• Experience advising on information governance and records management.
• Knowledge of emerging issues such as AI, cybersecurity, and digital services regulation.

Desirable criteria 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 interview.

Security Clearance Level

All GLD employees must hold BPSS. If successful for this post you must hold or be willing to obtain CTC 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 levels before 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 sponsorship will 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.

Behaviours

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

• Delivering at Pace
• Communicating and Influencing
• Making Effective Decisions

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £59,200, Government Legal Department contributes £17,150 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides (opens in a new window).

• 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.

As the lead for the Government Legal Profession, we offer a tailored programme of development for all Legal Professionals joining the organisation through our Government Legal Training Programme and

Legal Learning Framework, which includes:

• Foundation pathway, to support colleagues in their first 12 months
• Practitioner pathways for colleagues in four core areas of work
• Core Curriculum

We also offer a 2+2 scheme for newly qualified lawyers to gain a broader idea and understanding of the range of work available as a government lawyer.

Alongside this 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.

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.

Step 1: 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 Monday 14th September 2026 at 12:00 midday.

In your application you will be assessed on the following:

• A CV setting out your qualifications, career history, and educational achievements. Please ensure you have provided reasons for any gaps within the last two years. This will be scored and used to assess Key Skills and Experience and Qualifications as set out in the Person Specification.
• A 500-word (maximum) Personal statement addressing the Key Skills & Experience criteria set out in the personal statement.
• 3 x 250-word (maximum) Behaviour statements on Delivering at pace, Communicating and influencing, Making effective decisions

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: [email protected] . Use the subject line to insert appropriate wording for example - 'Please re-open my application - 476540 - closing date Monday 14th September 2026'.

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 behaviours and key skills & experience outlined in the person specification.

Staged Sift

We will conduct a staged sift. The initial sift will be on CV alone. Candidates assessed as demonstrating the required experience in their CV will progress to the second stage of the two-stage sift where their Personal Statement andbehaviourswill be assessed.

Candidates assessed as not demonstrating the required key skills & experience in their CV will not progress to have their Personal Statement andbehavioursassessed; they will be deemed as unsuccessful in the first stage of the two-stage sift.

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.

Step 2: Assessment - Written Exercise

If you successfully pass the sift you will be invited to complete a Written Exercise. This will assess the criteria Key Skills & Experience set out in the person specification and will last 60 minutes. Information will be shared on Friday 9th October 2026 and you will have until Friday 16th October 2026 to complete this.

If you fail to do complete this, you will not proceed further to the next stage.

For those that have submitted the written exercise, they will be invited to the interview stage.

Interview

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

• Behaviour: Delivering at pace
• Behaviour: Communicating and influencing
• Behaviour: Making effective decisions
• Key Skills & Experience

There will be follow-up questions at the interview on your response given to the written exercise and you will be given an opportunity to review these prior to the interview date.Your interview will take place online.

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

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a basic (or equivalent) 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 : [email protected]
• Telephone : 01179234417

Recruitment team

• Email : [email protected]

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 [email protected] in the first instance. Please title your email as follows: 476540 - Information Lawyer, MOJLA x 2 - 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.