Lawyer (Planning) - Torbay Council

Devon County Council; Devon and Torbay; Hybrid; GBP 80,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

A local council in Devon is looking for a Planning Lawyer to join its Legal Services Team. This role involves providing essential legal advice to support community and business development. Candidates should be qualified legal advisors, ideally with experience in a legal environment. The position offers a hybrid working model, competitive salary, generous leave, and a supportive work culture that values employee development.

Benefits

Generous salary

26 days annual leave plus bank holidays

Career Average Re-Valued Earnings (CARE) pension scheme

Flexible working hours

Family friendly policies

Lifestyle discounts and health benefits

Learning and development opportunities

Supportive management and team structure

Qualifications

• Experience working within a legal environment is essential.
• Must converse confidently in spoken English.

Responsibilities

• Support key agendas related to investment and prosperity.
• Provide legal advice within varied planning caseloads.

Skills

Effective communication and interpersonal skills

Ability to give clear and accurate legal advice

Education

Suitable training as a legal advisor

Job description

Recruiting Manager: Ian Goldsmith

Job Description & Person Specification

No two days in Torbay are ever the same!

Torbay is breath-taking, captivating and welcoming, occupying a prime position on the south coast of Devon. Currently experiencing unprecedented levels of investment and the council’s own ambitious transformation programme have given Torbay the opportunity to capitalise on the area’s profile and many assets. As a small unitary authority, you’ll discover Torbay is a place where you can make things happen quickly. We have real momentum building, fuelled by a shared sense of purpose and ambition - which is clearly evident by our recent success in being awarded the ‘Most Improved Council’ at last year’s Local Government Chronicle (LGC) Awards. We want Torbay and its residents to thrive and are committed to making a difference in our community, delivering high quality services to local people.

To complement this journey, we are now seeking a Planning Lawyer to join our Legal Services Team. This varied role provides a platform to be actively involved, supporting key agendas pertinent to the investment and prosperity of Torbay, its residents, businesses and wider communities. No two days will be the same, for which those already working within local government will attest to and actively thrive upon.

Undertaking the role of a Lawyer, you will be a suitably qualified professional across either the public or private sector, excited by a fast-paced and varied planning caseload, conscientious, professionally curious and a role model to other team members. In return, you will join a supportive and rewarding organisation and team, whereby your talent will be valued and actively developed. At Torbay Council, we know that our biggest strength comes from our people, and we are excited for you to join us.

We also understand the importance of an effective work-life balance, therefore offer an enviable hybrid working approach. This is managed effectively around the need to attend essential meetings and/or make court appearances in line with the remit of the role.

This role offers an exciting opportunity to work for an employer that is in a great period of change and sees legal services as not simply a support function, but an enabler in the pursuit of their ambitious transformation journey.

In return, we offer:

• A generous salary.
• 26 days annual leave plus bank holidays, increasing with length of service.
• A Career Average Re-Valued Earnings (CARE) pension scheme through Peninsula Pensions.
• A great working environment with flexible hours.
• Family friendly policies.
• A wide range of lifestyle discounts and health and wellbeing benefits.
• Learning and development opportunities.
• A supportive management and team structure.

Skills (Essential)

• Effective communication and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to give clear and accurate legal advice.

As this post meets the requirements of the Immigration Act 2016 (part 7), the ability to converse at ease with members of the public and provide advice in accurate spoken English is essential for the post.

Knowledge (Essential)

• A developing knowledge of the law and procedures within the specialist discipline.
• A general awareness of the policies, aims and objectives of the Council.

Experience & Qualifications (Essential)

• Suitable training as a legal advisor.
• Experience of working within a legal environment.