Data Protection Officer
Make sure an organisation handles people's personal data lawfully under GDPR.
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- Typical pay
- €42k–€85k
- Usual education
- Degree
- Outlook
- Growing fast across the EU; every large organisation needs one.
A day in the life
Review a new product for privacy risk, respond to a data subject request, run staff training, and handle a breach report.
Ways in
- Law or IT degree plus privacy certification
- Compliance role then specialise
- Legal training contract
What to study at 16
The subjects you choose for the final years of secondary school can shape which degrees, exams and careers are easiest to reach. This is about choosing courses, not choosing a school.
Spain
Bachillerato de Humanidades y Ciencias Sociales
Portugal
Línguas e Humanidades
France
Bac général — spécialités
Italy
Liceo classico / scienze umane
Netherlands
Profiel Economie & Maatschappij
Ireland
Leaving Certificate subject choice
Skills that matter
Best courses to take
The study routes that lead most directly into this career.
Data Protection & GDPR Certification
Practical privacy compliance training (CIPP/E and equivalents).
The certification employers name in job adverts.
Helpful school subjects: Law, IT
LLB Law
The qualifying law degree: contract, tort, criminal, public and EU law.
Deeper legal grounding for senior roles.
Helpful school subjects: English, History, Politics
Places that hire for this
A&O Shearman
Recruits for this role through internships, apprenticeships and graduate entry routes.
Baker McKenzie
Recruits for this role through internships, apprenticeships and graduate entry routes.
Clifford Chance
Recruits for this role through internships, apprenticeships and graduate entry routes.
Cuatrecasas
Recruits for this role through internships, apprenticeships and graduate entry routes.
DLA Piper
Recruits for this role through internships, apprenticeships and graduate entry routes.
Garrigues
Recruits for this role through internships, apprenticeships and graduate entry routes.
Linklaters
Recruits for this role through internships, apprenticeships and graduate entry routes.
Uría Menéndez
Recruits for this role through internships, apprenticeships and graduate entry routes.