Below is a brief list of the types of jobs that might require you to disclose spent convictions:
Doctors, dentists, midwives and nurses
Solicitors
Accountants
School based jobs
Jobs with social services providers
Jobs that involve the supervision or training of people under the age of 18
Being refused a job
The potential for legal action if you are refused employment because of a spent conviction is, as mentioned above, somewhat uncertain. However, if you are applying for a job which is exempt from the ROA, then the position is much clearer; there is very little that you can do.
If a job is exempt from ROA then generally, it is also exempt from the legislative protective elements as well.
Reform UK MP James McMurdock has a spent criminal conviction for assaulting his girlfriend in 2006.
Here are some jobs where you'd have to declare it. They're exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act
He could be refused employment for his conviction. Not, though, refused the position of MP.