Highways Planning Lawyer

CRA Group Recruitment And Payroll Ltd; England; On-site; GBP 80,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

A local authority in England seeks a Highways and Planning Lawyer (Senior Lawyer) to join its Legal Services team on a 3-month contract. The role involves providing high-quality legal advice on highways and related public law matters while managing a varied caseload with minimal supervision. Candidates must be a qualified Solicitor, Barrister, or Legal Executive with extensive experience in public sector legal work. The role operates within a Lexcel-accredited environment, supporting flexible work arrangements and contributing to training on emerging legal issues.

Qualifications

• Proven experience in highways law and planning law.
• Experience working in a local authority legal environment.
• Strong ability to manage a complex caseload independently.
• Experience supervising or mentoring junior lawyers.

Responsibilities

• Provide expert legal advice to the Council on legal matters.
• Manage a full and complex caseload with minimal supervision.
• Support senior management in managing a team of lawyers.
• Contribute to policy development and training activities.

Skills

Highways law

Planning law

Public sector legal work

Strong advocacy skills

Strong drafting skills

Time Management

Communication skills

Legal Research

Education

Qualified Solicitor Barrister or Legal Executive

Tools

Microsoft Office

Electronic case management systems

Job description

3 months contract with a Local Authority

Job Summary

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 Councils 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 Councils 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.

Required Skills

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.

Required Education

Qualified Solicitor Barrister or Legal Executive with substantial post-qualification experience.

Key Skills

Time Management,Microsoft Office,Communication skills,Computer Skills,Microsoft Word,Banking,Legal Research,Microsoft Powerpoint,Microsoft Excel,Underwriting,Phone Etiquette

Employment Type

Full Time

Experience

years

Vacancy

1

Monthly Salary Salary

42 - 42