Description Senior Solicitor (Real Estate & Planning) Waverley Court Salary: £65,184 - £77,845 (pro-rata for part time) Hours: 36 per week (part time considered) The City of Edinburgh Council’s in-house legal team has an exciting opportunity for a Senior Solicitor to join its Real Estate team. The applicant should have experience of commerical property law or planning law, or a combination of both. Experience of working for a public sector organisation would be desirable. The Real Estate team advises on planning and property law, both commerical and residential. The workload will be varied, challenging and interesting, dealing with some of the most high profile developments in Scotland. You will be supported in a collegiate environment and encouraged to develop a full range of legal and other skills. The property lawyers within the team deal with a full range of property matters, including development agreements, site assembly, commercial leasing, purchases, sales, asset management work, advice on residential leases, title queries, and work unique to local authorities for example the introduction of an Low Emission Zone in Edinburgh, Compulsory Purchase and nature reserve dedications. The planning lawyers within the team deal with complex planning and building control advice work, s75 agreements, enforcement actions, Judicial reviews, CPOs and helping with policy. Support to high profile capital projects will also form part of the role. The centre of Edinburgh is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and many other areas are listed. The team plays an integral role in balancing the need for development and growth with the protection of Edinburgh as a world-renowned historic city. The Real Estate team consists of the Principal Solicitor, eight Senior Solicitors, one Solicitor and a trainee Solicitor. Applicants will be expected to draw upon professional and commercial acumen to ensure that all legal advice is relevant and appropriate. The applicants should have a positive attitude, a willingness to learn and the ability to work as part of a team to find solutions to complex problems. The Council’s legal team is committed to the principles of modern local government and has a key role in the delivery of new and innovative projects to enhance Scotland’s capital city. The position is advertised as a full time position, 36 hours per week, or such other hours as are agreed with the successful candidate; our staff work flexibly in many different ways and we are also open to discussing the possibility of reduced hours. This post is subject to a standard disclosure check. We're committed to creating a workplace culture where all our people feel valued, included and able to be their best at work, and we recognise the benefits that a diverse workforce with different values, beliefs, experience, and backgrounds brings to us as an organisation. As part of our goal to improve our organisational culture and create a great place to work together for the people of Edinburgh, we want to make sure that we’re bringing the best people into our roles, not just in their skills and experience but also in their approach to work. To help achieve this, we’re changing the way we interview and assess candidates by moving from a competency-based interview approach to a behavioural and technical (skills for the job) based approach. This new way of interviewing will allow us to assess how you think and how you would bring Our Behaviours of Respect, Integrity and Flexibility into your ways of working. You can find out more on Our Behaviours web page Our Behaviours – The City of Edinburgh Council Our salary range typically reflects the initial starting salary and annually increases until it reaches the top of the range. Happy to talk flexible working. Follow us on X at @edincounciljobs View Senior Solicitor job description Responsibilities Qualifications and Training: a Scots LLB degree, a diploma in Legal Practice and a current practicing certificate. EXPERIENCE Experience in negotiating commercial and domestic property transactions including disposals, acquisitions, leases and licences. Desirable Experience in providing property and/or planning legal advice on complex commercial projects. Essential Experience of providing legal advice to senior management. Essential Experience of working in multi-disciplinary teams to deliver specific projects/work packages. Experience of providing training on a range of Property and/or planning law matters Essential Essential Experience of Planning law including dealing with s.75 Agreements and committee appeals. Experience of Housing law and related transactions and projects. Desirable Desirable Knowledge, Skills and Understanding Proven ability to provide complex Property and/or Planning law advice. Essential Ability to communicate effectively with colleagues, senior management and third parties, both verbally and in writing. Essential Ability to present legal solutions effectively and clearly at a variety of forums. Essential Knowledge and understanding of Property law and ability to advise on related practical implications and solutions. Desirable Demonstrable influencing and negotiating skills Knowledge and understanding of Planning law and ability to advise on related practical implications and solutions. Essential Desirable An understanding of the governance and political processes of local authorities. Desirable