1. What Was the Situation?
The client, a large international fashion retailer, needed maternity cover for their senior data protection lawyer. Facing cost constraints, they required a flexible solution that allowed them to turn off the support model if necessary. Recognising that many business-as-usual (BAU) tasks, such as initial data collection for Data Protection Impact Assessments (DPIAs), could be handled at a junior level, the client sought to balance cost-effectiveness with operational continuity.
The client wanted a junior resource to:
- Work closely with their business units to complete first drafts of DPIAs using OneTrust.
- Act as the initial point of contact for Data Subject Access Requests (DSARs) and collect relevant data.
- Handle general data protection queries from the business and escalate more complex matters to senior members of the client’s legal team as needed.
2. How Did We Help the Client?
We provided a junior data protection specialist from our team to support the client’s needs. The junior resource was integrated into the client’s existing team and became responsible for the following:
- DPIAs: Drafting initial versions of DPIAs in OneTrust, ensuring all necessary data was collected from relevant departments and aligned with the client’s compliance procedures.
- DSARs: Acting as the first point of contact for DSARs, handling the initial stages of data gathering, and ensuring that requests were processed in a timely and compliant manner.
- General Queries: Responding to various data protection queries from the business, and escalating complex issues to senior members of the client’s team when necessary.
This model provided the client with a cost-effective solution that maintained operational efficiency while avoiding the need for high-level legal support for routine tasks. The junior resource worked directly with the client’s business units, ensuring smooth collaboration and understanding of internal processes.
3. How Did They Benefit?
The client benefited from a flexible and affordable support model that could be adjusted based on their needs. By deploying a junior resource for BAU tasks like DPIA drafting and DSAR management, the client was able to reduce costs significantly while still maintaining compliance with data protection regulations.
Moreover, the ability to escalate issues to senior team members when necessary allowed the client to manage risk effectively without needing full-time senior-level support. This flexible model also provided the option to pause or reduce the level of support as required, offering the client full control over costs.
In addition to meeting the immediate need for maternity cover, the junior resource helped the client maintain business continuity during a critical period, ensuring data protection tasks were handled efficiently without placing undue pressure on the existing legal team.
