Paralegal

About the role

About us

Successful businesses rely on a unique set of ideas and people. We help our clients protect and develop those vital assets, unlocking possibilities for future success.

From iconic brands and leading multinationals to pioneering start-ups, we are proud to work with a huge range of inspiring clients, helping them to turn their ideas into reality and get the best from - and for - their people.

Our people are not only exceptional at what they do, they also enjoy doing it and consistently give their best to a firm they’re proud to be part of. This stems from our firm culture and our ethos of bravery and kindness. That ethos runs through everything we do, from our approach to recruitment, business practices, and DEI activities to the day-to-day environment in our office and our relationships with clients.

With an internationally minded team of more than 800 working across key areas of law – plus strategic partnerships around the world – we’ve got both the combination and calibre of legal experts it takes to enable our clients’ businesses to thrive. Whether it is providing global employment law advice, managing a global IP portfolio or piecing together a multijurisdictional corporate transaction, we are able to have the right people, in the right place, at the right time.

About the team

Our Data, Privacy & Cyber team advise on issues across the spectrum of data & privacy compliance and risk management, helping businesses across the UK, Ireland, Europe and internationally. We work with businesses to commercially leverage their data within regulatory confines as well as advising on issues such as GDPR and data protection legislation compliance.

Our experts advise on the full range of data services

• Workplace privacy – Workplace data from employee monitoring and surveillance, carrying out employee background checks, and drafting internal data privacy policies/notices to data related to diversity programmes.

• Data Subject Access Requests (DSARs) and data subject complaints – Advising on all volume of DSARs and data protection complaints across all sectors via a cost-effective solution.

• DPO as a service – we act as an outsourced Data Protection Officer for clients, helping them assess new ideas and turn data into an enabler.

• Adtech – Advising on use of biometric data and data & privacy compliant strategies for the commercial exploitation of personal data (including user profiling and targeting as well as marketing) in the context of digital marketing and advertising.

• Data processing arrangements and vendor onboarding - Negotiation of complex data protection agreements with service providers/advertising partners, legitimate interest assessments and privacy impact assessments for specific processing activities; retargeting initiatives on social media and other online platforms and privacy and cookie policies.

• Data breach and incident response – Advising on data breach issues (across multiple jurisdictions) arising from basic human error to significant breaches of security.

• Freedom of Information requests – Handling requests under Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) and the Environmental Information Regulations (EIR).

• Data transfers – Advising on global intra-group and extra group sharing arrangements, standard contractual clauses and carrying out internal risk assessments.

• Corporate support work for mergers and acquisitions (M&A) – Assisting with specialist data protection advice throughout the lifecycle of the deal.

• AI governance and AI Literacy – Advising on AI governance programmes, drafting policies, carrying out risk assessments, implementing mitigations, advising on ongoing AI assurance programmes and providing our AI Literacy training.

• Privacy governance – Assisting clients on their privacy governance programmes more generally including rolling out polices, updating ROPAs, working with clients on implementing new privacy tech and more. This helps client to ensure privacy by design is fully embedded into their culture and processes.

For workplace privacy, we are the UK, Irish and Hong Kong member of Ius Laboris, an international network. For all other international data & privacy matters, we work with specialist data & privacy firms across all key jurisdictions using our relationships with Ius Laboris and GALA (Global Advertising Lawyers Alliance) as well as other best of breed law firms.

About the role

We are seeking a paralegal to join our team; the role would suit an experienced paralegal with strong analytical capabilities and the confidence to shoulder responsibility for their own matters and deal directly with clients and lawyers including in other jurisdictions.

The candidate would be expected to assist of the team with a range of matters at one time, with a particular focus on carrying out reviews in the context of data subject access requests and all aspects of data protection, privacy and cyber compliance and strategy, both nationally and internationally. The candidate would be able to work remotely and in the office. The candidate will primarily work under the supervision of JP Buckley, Partner, who is based in the Manchester office but will also work with other team members from other offices, including London, Belfast and Cardiff. Support and relevant training will be provided.

About you

Our ideal candidate will be able to demonstrate

• Excellent drafting, analytical and communication skills as well as strong attention to detail.

• An ambitious, proactive, commercial, responsive attitude.

• A keen interest in developing your marketing and business development skills.

• Comfort with taking responsibility for work output and dealing directly with clients.

• That they are a team player who is keen to support others to learn, and who is keen to learn and develop their own skills.

Additional information At Lewis Silkin our ethos is simple. We strive to do the best for our clients, our people and the communities in which we operate. We recognise that an inclusive workplace allows for all kinds of ideas and thoughts, a variety of points of view that can trigger discussions or deliver innovative results, and a wide range of versatile skills and expertise. We are proud of the diversity within Lewis Silkin and of our culture that allows people to be themselves at work, ensuring we provide the best possible service to our clients. We are committed to supporting candidates throughout the recruitment process by supporting anyone who requires adjustments, in order to ensure they have the opportunity to perform at their best. All applicants will be considered equally and fairly. If you’d like to request any adjustments throughout the recruitment process, or would like to discuss flexible working patterns, please email the recruitment team in confidence (recruitment@lewissilkin.com).