Head of legal services
Senior legal leaders make sure the organisation acts lawfully and manages its legal risk well. They lead the in-house legal team, manage external legal advisers, and advise the board and executive on the organisation's most significant legal matters. In a digital health care organisation this includes the legal basis for using health data, major technology and data contracts, intellectual property in software, and the organisation's statutory duties.
- Family
- Legal
- UK GDaD PCF role
- None: this reference defines the role
- ESCO occupations
- lawyer (ISCO-08 2611); legal consultant (ISCO-08 2619)
- On GitHub
- Role document · Role data
Levels
| Band | Role level | UK GDaD PCF level | Civil Service grades | Job evaluation points |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8c | Deputy head of legal services | — | — | 654 |
| 8d | Head of legal services | — | — | 685 |
| 9 | General counsel | — | — | 733 |
In a digital health care organisation
- The organisation is a public body or works with them, so its decisions can be challenged, and it must act within its powers.
- The use of health and care data at scale, including for AI and research, carries high legal and reputational risk.
- Major technology contracts are long, valuable, and hard to exit, so their legal terms shape the organisation for years.
- Legal leaders work closely with the board, the data protection officer, clinical safety, and information governance colleagues.
ESCO occupations and skills
ESCO lists the skills and knowledge that employers usually need (essential) or may need (optional) for each occupation. Use them as a checklist for development conversations.
lawyer
Lawyers provide legal advice to clients and act on their behalf in legal proceedings and in compliance with the law. They research for, interpret and study cases to represent their clients in a variety of settings such as courts and administrative boards. They create arguments on behalf of their clients for lawsuits in different contexts with the aim of finding a legal remedy.
Essential skills and knowledge (14)
Skills and competences
- analyse legal evidence
- compile legal documents
- interpret law
- negotiate in legal cases
- negotiate lawyer's fee
- observe confidentiality
- present arguments persuasively
- present legal arguments
- protect client interests
- represent clients in courts
- respond to enquiries
Knowledge
Optional skills and knowledge (85)
Skills and competences
- advise on legal decisions
- advise on legal services
- advise on participation in financial markets
- analyse internal factors of companies
- analyse legal enforceability
- apply conflict management
- apply knowledge of human behaviour
- apply organisational techniques
- apply technical communication skills
- assess financial viability
- comply with legal regulations
- conduct research interview
- consult with business clients
- detect financial crime
- develop professional network
- document evidence
- ensure law application
- handle case evidence
- hear witness accounts
- identify clients' needs
- interpret financial statements
- maintain operational communications
- make legal decisions
- manage contract disputes
- manage contracts
- manage legal personal issues
- moderate in negotiations
- present evidence
- provide legal advice
- provide legal advice on investments
- trace financial transactions
- use consulting techniques
Knowledge
- ICT security legislation
- air transport law
- anti-dumping law
- architecture regulations
- business law
- civil law
- civil process order
- commercial law
- competition law
- constitutional law
- consumer law
- contract law
- copyright legislation
- corporate law
- criminal law
- criminology
- customs law
- education law
- employment law
- environmental legislation
- family law
- financial statements
- food legislation
- government representation
- health care legislation
- insolvency law
- intellectual property law
- international law
- international trade
- investigation research methods
- joint ventures
- law enforcement
- law of non-marital cohabitation
- legal department processes
- legal research
- legal terminology
- legislation in agriculture
- maritime law
- media law
- mergers and acquisitions
- pharmaceutical legislation
- procurement legislation
- property law
- public auction procedures
- railway law
- rhetoric
- road traffic laws
- road transport legislation
- securities
- social security law
- subsidiary operations
- tax legislation
- urban planning law
legal consultant
Legal consultants advise a varied array of clients ranging from business, individuals, up to legal firms. They provide legal advisory outside courtrooms in relation to legal affairs which depend on the nature of the client. They advise in matters such as merging of multinationals, housing purchase, modification of contracts and its implications. They help clients in general to abide by the regulations and avoid committing illegal acts.
Essential skills and knowledge (11)
Skills and competences
- advise on legal decisions
- analyse legal enforceability
- compile legal documents
- ensure law application
- identify clients' needs
- interpret law
- protect client interests
- provide legal advice
- use consulting techniques
Knowledge
Optional skills and knowledge (26)
Skills and competences
- analyse internal factors of companies
- analyse legal evidence
- apply technical communication skills
- consult with business clients
- manage contract disputes
- manage contracts
- moderate in negotiations
- negotiate in legal cases
- observe confidentiality
- present legal arguments
- protect personal data and privacy
- respond to enquiries
Knowledge
Contains ESCO v1.2.1 data (https://esco.ec.europa.eu/). © European Union. Reuse authorised under Commission Decision 2011/833/EU.