Specialist Planning Lawyer

£72,268 - £80,062

A public sector legal service is seeking an experienced Specialist Planning Lawyer to join at Principal level, leading a small, established planning and environment team.

This is a senior, hands-on role with a strong focus on complex planning casework, alongside light-touch management. It will suit a specialist who enjoys advising at committee level, building trusted client relationships and leading by example.

The role

• Manage a complex and often high-profile planning caseload
• Advise on planning law, highways matters and associated agreements
• Attend and advise Planning Committees and senior officers
• Lead a team of around seven lawyers, supported by a paralegal
• Improve client care through responsive, constructive advice and clearer work allocation
• Balance casework and management, moving from an initial 60/40 split to around 80/20

About you

• Qualified solicitor, barrister or legal executive
• Extensive experience in local authority planning law
• Strong background in highways work and committee attendance
• Previous experience supervising or managing lawyers
• Pragmatic, organised and confident in politically sensitive environments

Why apply

• Senior specialist role with autonomy and influence
• High-quality planning work
• Flexible, hybrid working,
• Permanent opportunity within a respected public sector legal service