Lawyer

Salary details: £ - £

Derbyshire County Council is currently seeking a highly skilled and motivated information lawyer to join our legal team.

This is a fantastic opportunity to work in a dynamic and progressive local authority, providing legal advice and support to the council and its various departments. Working in local government is a highly satisfying and rewarding experience in so many ways, in this role, you will play a vital role in ensuring that the council operates within the legal framework and delivers high-quality services to the residents of Derbyshire.

At Derbyshire County Council, we recognise that our workforce is our greatest asset, and we are currently looking for inspired and proactive people who are committed to new ways of thinking and working and you will enjoy an excellent range of benefits at Derbyshire County Council. 

Key responsibilities of this role are:

• You will be a practising lawyer (Solicitor Barrister or Chartered Legal Executive) with a good knowledge of data protection legislation.
• You’ll handle a stimulating case load, relating to all aspects of data protection and information law. You will support the Council in terms of responding to statutory requests for information such as Freedom of Information requests, Environmental Information Requests and individual rights requests.
• You will help facilitate partnership working by ensuring that information sharing agreements are in place with external organisations, contribute to policies and procedures.
• You will support the Council’s Data Protection Officer (DPO) in carrying out her role and have the opportunity to work with other members of the team who specialise in trading standards and employment law.
• Joining a dedicated and supportive team in Legal Services, you’ll be committed to working efficiently to deliver timely accurate and effective advice.

What skills and experience do you need to have:

• Experience of advising in areas of information law
• Knowledge of current legislation and case law relating to UK GDPR and Data Protection Act 2018.
• To be a Solicitor, Barrister or Chartered Legal Executive (FCILEx)
• The ability to give clear and accurate legal advice, including training.
• Good communication and interpersonal skills.

These lists are not exhaustive, take a look at our comprehensive job profile for more detail.

What we offer you: 

• 27 days of annual leave plus another 5 with 5 years of continuous service
• Flexi time, allowing flexible working hours and up to an additional 2 days of leave per month
• Generous local government pension scheme
• Guaranteed incremental annual pay increases
• Cycle to work scheme
• A supportive working environment
• Commitment and investment in your continuing professional development. 
• Discounts at selected county leisure centres
• and much more!

Our Legal Team is contractually based in Matlock, Derbyshire, but we work on a flexible basis which includes options for home working.  There'll be an opportunity to discuss future working arrangements at interview.

Derbyshire County Council is going through a period of positive development and transformation so it’s a great time to join and drive change.

We’re recruiting to a number of roles within our Legal Team, for information about the other opportunities that we have available simple click here

For an informal discussion about this role please contact Sinead Roberts, Senior Lawyer sinead.roberts@derbyshire.gov.uk or Kathryn Zasada (lawyer) kathryn.zasada@derbyshire.gov.uk

How to Apply:

Complete an application form and speak to a member of the team if you would like any more information.

Provisional Interview Date: week commencing the 21 November 2025 

Apply now and take the first step towards a fulfilling career with us! By joining Derbyshire County Council you will have access to a range of amazing rewards and employee benefits, including our generous annual leave scheme, excellent local government pension and fantastic employee discounts. To discover more detail about the rewards and benefits available to you, click here

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Important: Derbyshire County Council holds a sponsorship licence, but this role does not offer visa sponsorship. Please apply only if you already have the right to work in the UK without sponsorship, as applications that do not meet this requirement will be rejected.

We welcome applications from individuals who share our values — being Collaborative, Innovative, Empowered and Accountable. These values describe who we are and what we stand for as a council. They help shape our culture, encourage consistent behaviour and guide how we work together to make a positive difference for both our employees and the residents we serve.