Contentious Data Protection & Governance Lawyer - 12 Month FTC

Contentious Data Protection & Information Governance – 12 Month Fixed-Term Contract Manchester – Hybrid Working Salary: £75,000 - £80,000 The role We are looking to recruit a data protection and information law solicitor, or an experienced data protection practitioner (non-qualified individuals welcome), to join a contentious data protection & information governance team. The team advises across all of the firm’s key sectors - including education, health, life sciences, technology, charities and more. You will help to provide specialist advice in a range of contentious and regulatory situations, working closely with our highly supportive data, privacy and information law group. The most important requirement for this role is a strong understanding of the UK GDPR and the Data Protection Act 2018, particularly around data subject access requests (“DSARs”) DSARs. You do not need: • Significant litigation experience - the team provides full support. • Experience drafting policies or procedures - our excellent non-contentious team covers this work. Key responsibilities include: • Handling day-to-day DSAR queries, including strategy, proportionality, exemptions and risk. The underlying document review work on DSARs is carried out by our specialist paralegal team. • Assisting with ICO investigations, including gathering information, drafting responses and managing follow-on correspondence. • Supporting matters before the First-tier Tribunal. • Advising on requests for personal data from third parties (e.g. police or regulatory bodies). • Advising on how personal data should be handled in internal processes such as grievances, disciplinaries and other employment-related matters. • Supporting pre-action correspondence and litigation arising from data breaches. Litigation experience is helpful but not essential. • Advising clients on how to respond when data subjects seek to exercise their data protection rights, including assessing the scope of the request and guiding clients through appropriate and proportionate response steps. Opportunities include: • Working on high-profile matters involving major cyber incidents and complex DSARs. • Supporting investigations from the ICO and First-tier Tribunal matters. • Working across all of our sectors and with international clients. • Developing niche expertise in contentious GDPR and cyber work. • Contributing to client training, thought leadership and business development. We welcome applications from: • Qualified solicitors with 1–8 years’ PQE, and • Non-qualified individuals with strong hands-on experience in DSARs, Freedom of Information Act (“FOIA”) requests or GDPR compliance (e.g. in-house data protection practitioners, legal executives, specialist advisors, senior paralegals). You must have: • Practical experience advising on GDPR and Data Protection Act matters. • Hands-on experience with DSARs and data breaches. • Excellent communication and organisation skills. • A collaborative working style and willingness to learn. LHH Recruitment Solutions acts as an employment agency for permanent recruitment and an employment business for the supply of temporary workers. LHH Recruitment Solutions is an Equal Opportunities Employer. To note, the PQE indicated in this advertisement is intended as a guide only and does not preclude applications from those with more or less PQE.