Planning Legal Director

TN United Kingdom; City of Edinburgh; On-site; GBP 80,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

A prestigious Top 50 firm in Edinburgh seeks an ambitious Planning lawyer as a Legal Director with 8+ PQE. This role offers exposure to high-profile projects and clients, alongside excellent pay and prospects for partnership. Join a supportive team committed to professional development and innovative planning solutions.

Benefits

Market leading salary

Excellent benefits package including bonus

Well-being considerations

Financial protection measures

Enhanced leave

Qualifications

• Ambitious solicitor with 8+ PQE in Planning.
• Experience in planning legislation and compulsory acquisitions.
• Ability to manage complex workloads efficiently.

Responsibilities

• Advise on market-leading projects across infrastructure, energy, and real estate.
• Lead projects and develop new business.
• Support large-scale projects that reshape the UK landscape.

Skills

Planning legislation knowledge

Communication

Project management

Interpersonal skills

Innovative mindset

Education

Solicitor qualification

Job description

Social network you want to login/join with:

Are you an ambitious Planning lawyer seeking the finest work at an outstanding Top 50 firm who have won awards such as "Best Project of the Year" for their planning expertise?

This award-winning business offers excellent pay, exposure to exciting clients and the highest quality of work. Their renowned Planning team seek a Legal Director (8+ PQE) to join their engaging Edinburgh office.

The Firm

A standout firm in the UK legal market, this Top 50, multi-award-winning firm balances top-tier work and prestigious clients with an excellent working culture and work-life balance.

Rapid expansion across the UK is driven by a results-focused approach and a commitment to hiring and nurturing top legal talent. Unlike many firms at this level, its culture remains approachable and supportive, with partners actively mentoring junior lawyers.

Many of its lawyers have earned individual recognition, including from the Hot 100 and Legal 500 Hall of Fame. The firm attracts rising stars and offers outstanding professional development, leading to long-term staff retention.

Clients range from high-net-worth individuals to major multinationals, offering exposure to top-quality work across jurisdictions. With some of the UK's most highly regarded legal minds, the firm provides an industry-leading service.

For ambitious professionals, this is a rare opportunity to gain deep expertise and advance to the top of your field.

The Role

Working with this Legal 500 Tier ranked Planning team, you will gain exposure to exciting and innovative work with a diverse range of clients, supporting large-scale projects which are at the forefront of development in the UK.

As a key member of the team, you will advise on market-leading projects across infrastructure, energy and real estate. This varied role can provide you exposure to renewable technologies (wind, hydro, nuclear, hydrogen), large-scale transportation projects, urban regeneration schemes, sporting developments, garden settlements, over-station developments, estate regeneration and more.

The work you will be involved in will reshape the face of the UK for generations to come and is vital to transforming and modernising the landscape for sustainable and productive use.

With renowned colleagues, you will have the opportunity to develop your technical and client relation skills while helping to cement the company's reputation as a leader in the Planning sector.

By taking a lead on projects, developing new business and receiving continuous and ongoing professional development support you will be in an enviable position to develop market-leading expertise and take a significant and exciting step forward in your career.

The role comes with strong short to mid-term Partnership prospects.

The Ideal Candidate

• Is an ambitious solicitor with 8+ PQE in Planning
• Experience in relevant planning legislation (e.g. Town & County Planning Act)
• Previous work with compulsory acquisitions, compensation matters, EIA/HRA and judicial review is ideal
• Ability to manage complex and varied workloads efficiently to the highest standard
• Excellent verbal/written communicator with first-rate interpersonal skills
• Has a proactive, innovative and value-adding mindset

What's on offer

• Working for a Top 50 and multi-award-winning firm of significant prestige
• An opportunity to develop a revered reputation in the Planning practice area
• Exposure to top-tier clients and high-quality/high-value work
• Market leading salary
• Excellent benefits package including bonus, well-being considerations, financial protection measures and enhanced leave