Highways and Planning Senior Lawyer

SURREY COUNTY COUNCIL; Reigate; On-site; GBP 60,000; Full time

Job summary

Surrey County Council is seeking a qualified Senior Solicitor or Lawyer for a permanent position in our Highways and Planning legal team. This rewarding role involves conducting legal agreements, advising on varied legal issues, and offering support to council members, ensuring legal compliance while working flexibly within a hybrid working policy. Join us to make a positive impact on our community through effective legal support and collaboration with dedicated professionals.

Benefits

26 days' holiday, rising to 31 days

Employee Assistance Programme (EAP)

Local government pension

Qualifications

• Eligible to practise in England and Wales with a current practicing certificate.
• Recent legal experience in highways and planning law.
• Experience of working with clients at all levels and ability to give clear, accurate and practical advice.

Responsibilities

• Conduct highways and planning agreements, enforce countryside and highways law.
• Advise clients on highways and planning legal matters, including appeals and litigation.
• Collaborate with fellow lawyers and support the strategic goals of the Council.

Skills

Legal advice

Negotiation

Team working

Education

Solicitor or Barrister qualification

Job description

This permanent role has a starting salary of £59,868 per annum, based on a 36 hour working week.

We have a great opportunity to join our Highways and Planning legal team as a qualified Senior Solicitor or Lawyer. We are looking for a flexible and motivated colleague to join this friendly team. Our work is interesting and varied and we work for informed and appreciative client teams.

The Council adopts a hybrid working policy with flexible working arrangements which includes access to our offices in Reigate and Weybridge combined with remote or home working. We come together in person for 2 days per week on average (40% of the working week).

Rewards and Benefits:

• 26 days' holiday, rising to 28 days after 2 years' service and 31 days after 5 years' service
• Option to buy up to 10 days of additional annual leave
• An Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) to support health and wellbeing
• Up to 5 days of carer's leave per year
• Paternity, adoption and dependents leave
• A generous local government salary related pension
• Lifestyle discounts including gym, travel, and shopping
• 2 paid volunteering days per year
• Learning and development hub

About the Role

The team sits alongside other teams in the County's Legal Services, supporting the work of the County as Highway Authority and Minerals and Waste Planning Authority. The teams lawyers draft highways and planning agreements, providing advice on planning and highways enforcement, DCO work, appeals, and related litigation. We assist with reports to Committee and Cabinet and provide training for client teams. Our support of officers on enforcement directly benefits residents ensuring that obstruction, encroachment and planning breaches are addressed effectively.

As a Senior Lawyer within the Highways and Planning legal team, you will conduct a number of highways and planning agreements, countryside and highways enforcement and mineral planning advice, working in a committed and positive way, sometimes to tight deadlines. Other work includes advising on general highways and planning issues, local government matters and have conduct of any related appeals / litigation. We work collaboratively with fellow lawyers in our District and Borough legal teams.

The person appointed to this post will have conduct of a number of highways and planning agreements, advise clients on highways and countryside laws regulations and enforcement options some high profile, securing significant benefits for Surrey residents. You will advise on general highways and planning issues, planning enforcement, local government law, Commons, Village Greens, Public Rights of Way, drainage and flooding, and have conduct of any related litigation. You will advise Members, particularly Members of the County's Planning and Regulatory Committee. You will deputise for the Principal Lawyer as required. The work is fast-paced and key to the delivery of the Council's strategic goals.

Shortlisting Criteria

To be considered for shortlisting for this position, your application will clearly evidence the following:

• You are a Solicitor, Barrister or Fellow of CILEX, eligible to practise in England and Wales with a current practicing certificate issued by the relevant regulatory authority;
• Demonstrate recent legal experience in the relevant areas of highways and planning law;
• Experience of working with clients at all levels and ability to give clear, accurate and practical advice;
• Effective team working;
• Ability to negotiate a range of highways and planning legal agreements and be able to provide practical clear advice on a range of highways and planning matters;
• Ability to take on urgent, and sometimes unfamiliar, matters at short notice;
• Ability to manage competing priorities to achieve client deadlines.

Please contact us for any questions relating to the role. This could be to discuss flexible working requests, transferable skills or any barriers to employment.

This advert closes at 23:59 on 10th August 2025.

This post has been designated as a politically restricted post in accordance with the Local Government and Housing Act 1989.

Local Government Reorganisation

Surrey County Council is preparing for Local Government Reorganisation which will allow us to implement the Government led policy of devolution, which is all about giving more powers to local areas. Currently, Surrey has a two-tier council system, with 11 district and borough councils and a county council, all responsible for different services. All these councils will be reorganised into a smaller number of new unitary councils which will come into effect in April 2027. At this point, this role will be transferred, with all existing terms and conditions intact into one of the new unitary councils.

Join our dynamic team and shape the future of local government. Make a lasting impact with innovative solutions and improved services for our community. Help us build a brighter future for our residents! Please see more information on our website.

Our Commitment

Surrey County Council is proud to be a Disability Confident Employer. A guaranteed interview will be offered to all disabled applicants where:

• The candidate has evidenced the minimum criteria for the role through their application.
• The candidate has chosen to share that they have a disability on the application form.

Our application form and onboarding process will provide an opportunity to request any reasonable adjustments for the interview and/or the role. We want to be an inclusive and diverse employer reflecting the community we serve and particularly welcome applications from all underrepresented groups.