Paralegal (6 month FTC) - Commercial, Data and Technology

What we will offer

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We will offer you a place where you can be yourself and where there are no limits on what you can achieve. With us, you can take ownership of your career and have honest conversations throughout. You would join an ambitious firm with a clear strategy for profitable growth where you can get early responsibility. Here you can expect a competitive and fair reward as well as recognition based on all round performance. This forms part of our internal promise to you, The Deal, between the firm and its employees.

You can expect:

• A competitive salary and a host of family-friendly policies
• Life assurance, private health, and dental care for you and your family
• A range of flexible benefits including gym discounts and retail vouchers
• Tech, cycle, and electric car schemes
• The opportunity to support the firm's charity through volunteering leave
• A wellbeing strategy that focuses on preventative measures to maintain overall health, and tools and support for when we experience physical or mental difficulties. The strategy focuses on four pillars: physical, emotional, financial, and social aspects.

Team Structure

This specific role has a primary alignment to the Commercial, Data, and Technology team; currently comprised of 6 partners, 10 associates, an apprentice, and a trainee. The team advises on a broad range of commercial agreements, outsourcing (both IT and business process), technology matters, and data protection.

Whilst the team works for clients in a broad range of market sectors, our focus is on technology, life sciences, hotels and leisure, art, and transport.

The Commercial, Data, and Technology team advises both its own clients as well as clients of other departments of the firm. There is some corporate support provided, but the majority of the team's work is for its "own" clients.

We are looking for a paralegal to join the team who has a strong interest in data protection advisory and compliance work. The role will involve working with the Stephenson Harwood commercial, data protection, and technology team on all aspects of their legal work. If successful, we will look to extend the term of the role.

Main Responsibilities

• Data Protection compliance
  • Due diligence reviews.
  • Data mapping exercises/questionnaires.
  • Research into data protection laws.
  • Reviews of data processing agreements.
• Data subject access requests
  • Project managing document reviews.
  • Conducting review of documents.
  • Ensuring reviews are being conducted consistently and accurately across reviewers.
  • Reporting on progress.
• General Commercial and technology
  • Commercial contract reviews.
  • Commercial due diligence work.

Attributes/Skills Required

• Candidates must have good academics and have completed the LPC or BPTC (ideally a 2:1 and more than a pass for LPC or competent for the BPTC).
• Previous data protection experience and knowledge is strongly preferred.
• An interest in commercial contracts and corporate law.
• Excellent drafting, presentation, and communication skills.
• Organised, with good time management skills and the ability to work to deadlines.
• Proactive and resilient.
• Good knowledge of due diligence is advantageous.
• Good knowledge of Excel.
• Good knowledge of document review platforms (such as Relativity) and data rooms is advantageous.
• Team player.

This job description is indicative only and does not represent an exhaustive list of responsibilities. The firm reserves the right to alter or change the responsibilities at any time, in line with the firm's strategy and business needs. We are an equal opportunity employer, committed to having a diverse workforce. We do not discriminate on the basis of age, sex, race, disability, sexual orientation, culture, or any other protected characteristics. We aim to create a culture where everyone can be themselves and is valued for their strengths and unique perspectives.

About the Firm

With 8 offices worldwide and with our headquarters based in London, Stephenson Harwood is a law firm where our people are committed to achieving the goals of our clients - listed and private companies, institutions, and individuals across the globe. Our mix of expertise and culture results in a combination of deep local insight and the capability to provide a seamless international service.

Our experience encompasses corporate, commercial litigation and arbitration, employment, pensions and private wealth, finance, marine and international trade, and real estate and projects.

We assemble teams of bright thinkers to match our clients' needs and give the right advice from the right person at the right time. Dedicating the highest calibre of legal talent to overcome the most complex issues, we deliver pragmatic, expert advice that is set squarely in the real world.

We understand the power of diversity in delivering that high calibre advice to our clients. We want to attract diverse talent and we particularly encourage applications from underrepresented demographics.

Our values:

Individuality - We encourage creativity and develop talent.

Commitment - To be the best and deliver the highest standard.

Teamwork - We work together to build close, long-term relationships.

Straight talking - We say what we mean and do what we say.

These values express the personality of the individuals within our firm. They are the behaviours we encourage in our people and the standards which inform our decisions and actions.

Our vision into 2026

To be a successful firm where talented people work together in an entrepreneurial environment, building long-term client relationships.

This vision is about who we want to be, as well as who we are. It is as much about our values as about our character - the attributes we want to see from all of our people. That's how we unlock our entrepreneurial spirit, advising our clients with top performing teams.

A key part of the 2026 strategy is to focus on five core sectors: energy transition; life sciences and healthcare; private capital and funds; technology; transportation and trade. These have been identified as crucial in the drive for accelerated profitable growth.