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JOB TITLE: Head of Legal (In-house)
LOCATION: London based role with some hybrid working, currently Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.
PROPOSED SALARY RANGE: £115,000 - £125,000pa depending on relevant skills, knowledge and experience. The expected salary range for this role reflects internal benchmarking and external market insights.
We're happy to discuss flexible working. If you'd like to, please indicate your preference in the application – though there's no obligation to do so now. Flexible working will be part of the discussion at offer stage.
PURPOSE OF THE ROLE
Join the BBC Legal team for this exciting new role in Information Rights. We are looking for an experienced lawyer to take management responsibility for the Information Rights team. You will also act as a legal adviser on content matters as part of the Programme Legal Advice team, spending approximately 50 per cent of time with each team.
In this role you will have overall management responsibility for the teams providing legal advice and compliance in relation to Freedom of Information and SARs. You will also undertake pre-transmission legal advisory work on BBC content. This will include supporting journalists gain access to information and potentially participating in a news duty roster, including out of usual business hours, as experience is gained.
WHY JOIN THE TEAM
The FOI legal and compliance teams are responsible for responding to approximately 1800 FOI requests received by the BBC each year as well as Subject Access Requests. They also advise on the BBC’s obligations under the Freedom of Information Act including conducting internal reviews, responding to ICO complaints or tribunal proceedings, or occasionally proceedings in the High Court and beyond.
The role sits within the BBC Legal Division, which is responsible for providing legal advice and assistance across the BBC and for developing and implementing the BBC’s legal strategy. The Legal Division is led by the BBC’s General Counsel. It is made up of the following departments: General Counsel's Office, Litigation and Information Rights, Intellectual Property, Employment, Programme Legal Advice, Commercial Data Protection and Technology, Distribution and Competition and Regulatory Law.
Our overall structure is similar to that found in private practice firms and we provide advice and support on a wide range of matters. Whilst this means the work can be challenging and fast-paced at times, we are open to hybrid ways of working to support our staff, where appropriate and in line with our flexible working policies.
* Manage the FOI legal and compliance teams
* Supervise the provision of advice on FOI and SARs at all levels across the BBC Group, including the conduct of appeals to the ICO and Information Tribunal
* Work effectively with other team members within the Litigation and Information Rights Department and the wider legal team to provide a first class legal service
* In the Programme Legal Advice team, provide pre-transmission advice on defamation, contempt, privacy and other aspects of media law to journalists and content producers across the BBC. This may include occasional participation in our duty lawyer service providing 24/7 support for BBC News outlets
* Support BBC journalism by challenging reporting restrictions and applying to courts and other bodies seeking access to, and the right to report, information
YOUR SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE
ESSENTIAL CRITERIA:
* Significant experience in advising on complex Freedom of information matters including up to Tribunal level, and experience in advising pre-publication on defamation, privacy and contempt.
* Qualified as a solicitor or barrister in a leading law firm or chambers with a minimum of 7 years’ PQE and possess a strong academic background and excellent problem-solving and analytical skills.
* Line Management – ability to manage a team and strong interpersonal skills.
* Proven experience of advising clients directly and in sometimes urgent circumstances.
* The ability to understand the varied needs of clients across the BBC and to advise and communicate with them on legal and other matters.
If you can bring these skills and experience, along with transferable strengths, we’d love to hear from you and encourage you to apply.
Before your start date, you may need to disclose any unspent convictions or police charges, in line with our Contracts of Employment policy. This allows us to discuss any support you may need and assess any risks. Failure to disclose may result in the withdrawal of your offer.
BPS25
Disclaimer
This job description is a written statement of the essential characteristics of the job, with its principal accountabilities, incorporating a note of the skills, knowledge and experience required for a satisfactory level of performance. This is not intended to be a complete, detailed account of all aspects of the duties involved.
Please note: If you were to be offered this role, the BBC will conduct Employment screening checks which include reference checks; eligibility to work checks; and if applicable to the role, safeguarding and adverse media/social media checks. Any offer made is conditional on these checks being satisfactory.
The BBC is committed to redeploying employees seeking suitable alternative employment within the BBC and they will be given priority consideration ahead of other applicants. Priority consideration means for those employees seeking redeployment their application will be considered alongside anyone else at risk of redundancy, prior to any individuals being considered who are not at risk.
Information at a Glance
This is your BBC
At the BBC you can create and innovate in an inclusive environment while contributing to some of the world’s best loved content, and the BBC’s mission to inform, educate and entertain. Find out more about the BBC
Life at BBC
Here you will benefit from:
* Fair pay and flexible benefits including a competitive salary package, a flexible 35-hour working week, 25 days annual leave with the option to buy an extra 5 days, a defined pension scheme and discounted dental, health care and gym.
* Excellent career and professional development.
* Support in your working life, including flexible working which you can discuss with us at any point during the application, selection or offer.
* A values-based organisation where the way we do things is important as what we do.
Benefits may vary if you are joining on an FTC basis.
Learn more about life at the BBC and our values in our candidate pack.
Candidate pack
You belong
We have a working environment where we value and respect every individual's contribution, so all our employees feel that they can belong, thrive and achieve their full potential.
We want to attract the broadest range of talented people to join us. The more diverse our workforce, the better able we are to respond to and reflect our audiences in all their diversity.
We welcome applications from individuals, regardless of age, gender, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, socio-economic background, religion and/or belief.
Find out more about diversity, inclusion and belonging in our strategy below.
Diversity, inclusion & belonging strategy
Disability confident
We are a disability confident employer. If you need to discuss adjustments or access requirements for the interview process, or to carry out this role, please contact us via email and we’d be happy to discuss: reasonable.adjustments@bbc.co.uk
BBC Group and Public Services, Broadcasting House, Portland Place, London, United Kingdom, W1A 1AA. BBC Studios Distribution Limited, company no: 01420028, registered address: 1 Television Centre, 101 Wood Lane, London, United Kingdom W12 7FA.
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