Highways lawyer – ar

Highways Lawyer – Thurrock Council

Job Purpose

To contribute to the provision of a comprehensive legal service to the Council and its Officers.

The Council is a unitary authority and the local highway authority for its area. We are seeking to appoint a Highways Lawyer to provide legal advice and support on a wide range of highways and transportation matters, varying in complexity, to support the effective discharge of the Council’s statutory functions.

The role will include advising on highways matters arising from a high level of development and regeneration activity across the borough, including the highways and traffic implications of major and complex schemes. The post will be undertaken within a changing and evolving organisation, including in the context of Local Government Reorganisation (LGR), requiring flexibility, resilience, and a collaborative approach to service delivery.

About you

You will be a qualified solicitor, barrister, or chartered legal executive with a minimum of two years’ relevant post‑qualification experience, with demonstrable experience in highways law or a closely related public law area.

You will have experience of advising on highways matters arising from significant development and regeneration activity, with an understanding of the interface between highways, planning, and infrastructure delivery. You will be confident advising on Traffic Regulation Orders and traffic management measures, including those required to support development and regeneration schemes.

You will be a collaborative and emotionally intelligent lawyer, able to build effective working relationships with officers, Members, and external stakeholders, and to communicate legal advice clearly, proportionately, and with sensitivity in a political and public‑sector environment.

You will be a strong team player, comfortable working within a changing organisational context, including during periods of Local Government Reorganisation, demonstrating resilience, adaptability, and a constructive approach to supporting colleagues and maintaining service continuity.

Key Service Accountabilities

Highways

• Providing legal advice on the Highways Act 1980 and related legislation
• Drafting and reviewing enforcement notices, orders (including stopping‑up and diversion orders), and agreements, including but not limited to sections 38 and 278 agreements, s.50 agreements, highway licences etc
• Advising on highways and traffic matters arising from planning, development, and regeneration proposals
• Drafting, advising on, and supporting the making of Traffic Regulation Orders, including those linked to development, regeneration, traffic management, and highway safety schemes
• Advising on public rights of way, traffic regulation, and highway adoptionissues
• Advising on statutory duties under the Flood and Water Management Act 2010
• Supporting the Lead Local Flood Authority (LLFA) role as a statutory consultee on surface waterdrainage
• Drafting and negotiating legal agreements relating to sustainable drainage systems (SuDS)
• Assisting with legal aspects of flood risk management schemes and enforcement under the Land Drainage Act1991

Governance and General

• Advising on public law, governance, and decision making risk
• Supporting officers and Members on highways‑related committee and decision‑making
• Instructing and managing external legal advisers where required
• Contributing to reports and guidance to support lawful, robust, and proportionate decision‑making
• Working collaboratively as part of the Legal Services team, demonstrating professionalism, emotional intelligence, and a positive, team‑focused approach

Have a firm understanding of Key Legislation

• Highways Act 1980
• Flood and Water Management Act 2010
• Land Drainage Act 1991
• Related highways, traffic, and public law legislation