Belfast, Cardiff, Edinburgh, London, Wilmslow
Job Summary
Paralegal – Litigation
Full time / Part time
Salary
: £33,273 - £37,692 with potential for further progression to £42,439 with our pay progression scheme.
Location: Flexible
Contracted to our Wilmslow, London, Edinburgh, Cardiff or Belfast office, however, through hybrid working we offer flexible home and office-based working opportunities. There will be times when you will be expected to attend the office to collaborate with colleagues or travel due to business need (which will include attendance at Tribunal and Court hearings in London and nationally). .
Please note, from Autumn 2026 our head office will relocate from Wilmslow to Manchester city centre.
Why work for the ICO?
- Pay progression scheme.
- Hybrid and flexible working options.
- 25 days paid holiday per year, plus privilege and public holidays.
- Flexi leave (up to 24 additional days leave per year).
- Pension (employer contribution around 28.9%).
- Online discount scheme to save money at major supermarkets, retailers, gyms, restaurants, insurance providers and many more.
- Health Cash Plan.
- Fantastic development opportunities to learn and progress.
Further details can be found on the benefits section of our website.
About Us
The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) is the independent regulator of information rights. In a data-driven world, we provide advice, guidance, and support to organisations enabling compliance with their obligations, as well as protecting individuals and their personal data.
As an employer, we are passionate about making a positive difference to the lives and careers of our people, and we empower you to be curious, impactful, collaborative and respectful.
Job Description
The ICO is at the heart of so many issues of national importance and these are exciting and challenging times for information rights.
The Litigation Directorate (one of the five Legal Directorates) acts for the Information Commissioner in its regulatory and civil litigation in the First-tier and Upper Tribunal, High Court, Court of Appeal, Supreme Court and in other courts as required.
As a Paralegal, you will provide a comprehensive and professional paralegal service to support lawyers in the Litigation Directorate.
Key Responsibilities
- Working closely with litigation lawyers to assist them in managing complex and high profile litigation.
- Assisting with the preparation and filing of court bundles.
- Assisting with the drafting of applications, responses, witness statements, correspondence and instructions to Counsel.
- Liaising with Counsel’s clerks to arrange conferences.
- Liaising with Court staff regarding hearings and other procedural matters.
- Liaising with ICO colleagues to arrange internal meetings.
- Conducting legal research.
- Attending and taking notes of hearings, internal meetings and conferences with Counsel.
The ICO is at the heart of so many issues of national importance and these are exciting and challenging times for information rights.
The Litigation Directorate (one of the five Legal Directorates) acts for the Information Commissioner in its regulatory and civil litigation in the First-tier and Upper Tribunal, High Court, Court of Appeal, Supreme Court and in other courts as required.
As a Paralegal, you will provide a comprehensive and professional paralegal service to support lawyers in the Litigation Directorate.
Key Responsibilities
- Working closely with litigation lawyers to assist them in managing complex and high profile litigation.
- Assisting with the preparation and filing of court bundles.
- Assisting with the drafting of applications, responses, witness statements, correspondence and instructions to Counsel.
- Liaising with Counsel’s clerks to arrange conferences.
- Liaising with Court staff regarding hearings and other procedural matters.
- Liaising with ICO colleagues to arrange internal meetings.
- Conducting legal research.
- Attending and taking notes of hearings, internal meetings and conferences with Counsel.
Person specification
Essential Criteria Assessed At Application Stage
- Candidates must have a Law Degree or equivalentrelevant work experience at a level demonstrating graduate ability.
- Knowledge of civil litigation practice and procedure.
- Excellent organisational skills and ability to prioritise and manage multiple tasks simultaneously.
- Experience of using computerised databases/ record management systems and very good working knowledge of Microsoft Office Excel and Word.
Essential Criteria Assessed At Interview Stage
- Excellent written and verbal communication together with strong interpersonal skills.
- Excellent accuracy and strong attention to detail.
- Excellent time management skills and the ability to cope with tight deadlines.
- Excellent organisational skills and ability to prioritise and manage multiple tasks simultaneously.
- Proven ability to work as part of a team and on own initiative.
Alongside your salary of £33,273, Information Commissioner's Office contributes £9,639 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.
Please visit ico.jobs for full details, including salary and benefits.
Selection process details
Equality, diversity, and inclusion
The ICO is committed to promoting and enhancing equality, diversity, and inclusion. We are focused on developing a workforce that is representative of the communities we serve and together we are building an inclusive workplace where all of our colleagues have the opportunity to make a real difference. We are championing this through our Equality Diversity and Inclusion Board together with a number of staff networks. Read more about our commitment on our website.
If you have a disability or impairment and have difficulty using our online application system, please email the HR team at
[email protected] who can arrange for you to submit an application via an alternative method.
Closing Date
Please submit your CV and cover letter by
23:59 on Monday 25th August 2025
We reserve the right to close this vacancy before this date should we receive sufficient applications. Please apply as soon as possible to ensure your application is considered.
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.
Security
Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.
People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.
Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.
People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.
Medical
Successful candidates will be expected to have a medical.
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
Please note this Post is NOT regulated by the Civil Service Commission.
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.
Please note this Post is NOT regulated by the Civil Service Commission.
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.
Diversity and Inclusion
The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see the Civil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window).
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 :
Recruitment team
