Complaints & GDPR Solicitor - 48124a 

Legal Services is an in-house solicitors' office and one of the University's Professional Services. We advise Academic Units and other Professional Services within the University and liaise with external bodies and solicitors as required. The Director reports directly to the Registrar and Secretary of the University, and is a member of the University's Senior Officer team and University's Leadership Forum.

The University has a panel of external solicitors, and together with direct instructions to Counsel, Legal Services take external advice where necessary.

The volume and nature of work received by Legal Services has increased extensively during the last three years. The wide variety of issues can be both challenging and rewarding. For example, the number and complexity of large collaborations has been increasing. Frequently, these large collaborations also include the development of academic joint programmes and/or joint research projects, the construction of new buildings and the procurement of new equipment.

In addition, the University has grown its volume of research applications and awards significantly over the last five years and has ambitious targets for 2026.This post is essential in supporting academic colleagues in achieving the demanding targets set in Birmingham 2026 (see https://www.birmingham.ac.uk/strategic-framework/Overview/birmingham-2026.aspx).

The Solicitor will advise on two primary areas of law:

1. A range of contentious matters, particularly, but not limited to student complaints and matters referred to the Office of the Independent Adjudicator (OIA), liaising with external solicitors and/or counsel as required. There are also occasions when the University enters into a commercial dispute, or where liaison with insurers in relation to a sensitive claim is required. After appropriate training the postholder may also be advising on other related aspects of University projects, e.g. governance, policies and procedures and public law
2. Legal issues relating to data protection and freedom of information. For example:
   • drafting data sharing agreements and similar contracts;
   • preparing and reviewing contractual provisions related to GDPR in a variety of contractual contexts;
   • advising on legal concerns raised by data subject access requests and associated privacy issues;
   • advising on and occasionally managing a significant data breach; and
   • advising on the privacy law elements of key strategic projects for the University.

The solicitor will provide legal advice to, and work closely with the Deputy Data Protection Officer, the Information Compliance Manager and their administrative support.

Some matters will require advice from an international perspective. The Solicitor will advise on these working with external solicitors in non-UK jurisdictions as appropriate.

This post will enable the successful candidate to become involved in a broad range of projects or activities across the University. The postholder will report directly to the Deputy Director of Legal Services.

Legal Services deals with some cases of considerable financial and reputational impact on the University, and therefore the applicant should have experience of managing large matters through to completion and the ability to take on a variety of work with varying degrees of complexity.Person Specification

Main Duties

• To carry an active caseload, which will include drafting ab initio;
• To identify and solve both legal and practical problems associated with the business of the University of Birmingham, including the negotiation and drafting of contractual matters relating to GDPR and related areas of law, working collaboratively with other parts of the University, such as academic colleagues, Research Contracts, Collaborative Provision, the International Office, University of Birmingham Enterprise Ltd., and Academic Services. As indicated, the nature of these arrangements can vary tremendously;
• To give clear and concise explanations of legal issues to non-qualified members of the University at all levels on non-contentious and contentious matters;
• To be proactive in identifying and establishing methods to reduce potential risk or liability to the University;
• To be willing to acquire new skills and to cover for other members of the team;
• To provide training to Schools, Colleges and Professional Services on new legal initiatives and statutory compliance;
• To facilitate the Protocol which ensures that all instructions to external legal advisers are issued and managed via Legal Services;
• To ensure that priorities are balanced within the area of specialism and schedule work accordingly, taking appropriate action to keep things on track.
• To produce their own documents, papers, emails and letters on occasions.They should also be sufficiently computer literate to produce their own presentations using PowerPoint; and
• To actively manage their own time and workload.

Skills, qualifications and experience required:

• Solicitor or barrister, qualified to practice within the UK,with current unrestricted practising certificate or licence to practice;
• Significant experience working in private practice or in-house, in a relevant area of law;
• Demonstrable interpersonal skills with a proven ability to lead and motivate a team and build effective and trusting partnerships;
• Evidence of strong planning and project management skills;
• Evidence of knowledge and experience of managing large complex matters, including the ability to prioritise workloads;
• Demonstrable confidence in negotiating agreements, and strong influencing skills to gain commitment and engagement from all types of individuals;
• Demonstrable confidence and presence in senior meetings;
• Demonstrable excellent oral communication and presentation skills;
• Demonstrablecultural sensitivity, tact and diplomacy;
• Demonstrates a positive response and adaptability to change;
• Demonstrates resilience, with an ability to work effectively under pressure and deliver to targets;
• Evidences excellent skills in time management (specifically meeting deadlines) and project working;
• Evidences excellent writing skills, with the ability to write/prepare high quality papers, presentations, reports and briefings to Project Board and University Committee level. This includes a clear style of communication and the ability to write for different audiences;
• Experience gained in the Higher Education Sector is desirable; and
• Experience of the University is desirable.