Principal Lawyer – Planning and Highways
£51,356 – £56,494 + £3,000 market supplement | Hybrid working
This is a senior in-house role within a large local authority legal service, offering the chance to work on a wide range of planning and highways matters that directly shape places, infrastructure and communities.
The role sits within a specialist planning and highways team and combines high-quality technical work with opportunities to develop leadership skills.
The team
You’ll join a dedicated Planning and Highways legal team advising on planning, highways, rights of way and related environmental matters. The team supports ambitious regeneration, infrastructure and sustainability objectives and works closely with planning officers, highways colleagues and elected members.
It’s a supportive and collaborative team environment, with a strong emphasis on practical, solutions-focused advice.
The role
You’ll be one of the lead lawyers in the team, providing advice on a broad mix of planning and highways work. Alongside your caseload, you’ll have scope to support junior lawyers and develop your management and leadership capability over time. The caseload will include:
1. Section 106 and Section 278 agreements
2. Complex and routine planning and highways advice
3. Planning enforcement and public law matters
4. Public inquiries and hearings
5. Advising officers and elected members on risk, governance and decision-making
Who this role suits
6. A qualified solicitor, barrister or CILEX lawyer
7. An experienced planning lawyer, operating at a senior level
8. Confident advising on complex planning matters and working with committees and members
9. Interested in broadening your experience into highways, public rights of way and wider local government law (or already experienced in these areas)
10. Someone who enjoys mentoring and supporting others, even if you’ve not formally managed before
Working arrangements and benefits
11. Hybrid working
12. Local Government Pension days annual leave, rising to days after five years, plus bank holidays
13. Generous family-friendly policies
14. Health and wellbeing support services
15. Travel, parking and cycle benefits
For more information
16. Contact Nik Stoate at Venn Group