Job Summary
* 3 months contract with a Local Authority
* Surrey County Council is seeking an experienced Highways and Planning Lawyer (Senior Lawyer) to join the Legal Services team within Law & Governance on a temporary basis.
* The role provides high-quality legal advice, representation, and support to enable the Council to discharge its functions lawfully and effectively, with a particular focus on highways, planning, and related public law matters.
* The post holder will manage a demanding and varied caseload with minimal supervision, support junior lawyers, contribute to service leadership, and help reduce reliance on external legal providers.
* The role operates within a Lexcel-accredited, paper-light legal service and supports flexible working arrangements.
Key Duties / Accountabilities (Sample)
* Provide expert legal advice and representation to the Council, its members, officers, and committees on highways, planning, and related legal matters.
* Act as a Senior Lawyer, managing a full and complex caseload with minimal supervision.
* Support and, where required, deputise for senior management, assisting in the management of a group of lawyers within identified work areas.
* Supervise, mentor, and support junior legal staff, ensuring high standards of professional practice and service delivery.
* Undertake and / or manage advocacy in legal proceedings as required.
* Contribute to the development of policies and procedures within Legal Services and Planning‑related functions.
* Support the Monitoring Officer, including advising on potential illegality or procedural default.
* Contribute to the Council’s objective of reducing reliance on external legal services, ensuring value for money.
* Maintain accurate and contemporaneous records using electronic case management systems, in line with Lexcel standards.
* Contribute to training and development activities across the Council to ensure awareness of legal changes and emerging issues.
* Demonstrate awareness of legal spend and budget control, particularly when commissioning external advice.
* Lead by example in embedding the Council’s values, behaviours, equality, and inclusion commitments.
Skills / Experience
* Proven experience in highways law, planning law, and related public sector legal work.
* Experience working within a local authority or public sector legal environment.
* Strong ability to manage a complex and high‑volume caseload independently.
* Experience supervising, mentoring, or managing junior lawyers or legal staff.
* Knowledge of local government governance, decision‑making, and committee processes.
* Experience providing legal advice to senior officers and elected members.
* Strong advocacy, drafting, and negotiation skills.
* Excellent organisational, analytical, and decision‑making abilities.
* Confidence working within Lexcel standards and electronic case management systems.
Additional Information
* The start date: 10 / 01 / 2026.
* Qualified Solicitor, Barrister, or Legal Executive with substantial post‑qualification experience.
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