Lawyer - Property

Devon County Council; Devon and Torbay; On-site; GBP 47,000 - 51,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Relocation package

31 days annual leave (pro‑rata)

Flexible working arrangements

Market supplement £5,000

Job summary

Devon County Council is recruiting a property lawyer for the Property Team at County Hall, Exeter. The role is permanent with 30–37 hours per week, offering a pro rata salary of £46,579–£50,908 and a £5,000 market supplement.

Relocation packages are available for exceptional candidates, and 31 days' annual leave (pro‑rata) with flexible working options. The successful candidate will handle a varied caseload from land disposals to high‑profile compulsory purchase orders, providing expert legal

Qualifications

• Extensive and relevant experience in property law area with ability to lead complex matters and transactions.

Responsibilities

• Draft and negotiate complex contracts for sale, transfer deeds, collaboration agreements, overage deeds, leases, licences, and other property related documentation for the Council.
• Provide expert legal advice to officers across all levels of the Council on a wide and complex range of property matters including schools, county farms, and cross‑authority partnerships.
• Respond to members of the public on property and highways related queries.
• Advise stakeholders on cross‑authority matters; attend panels and join project boards.
• Review and approve Cabinet Reports as necessary.
• Provide supervision and support to junior team members on complicated cases or property transactions.
• Support the Principal Lawyer in attending meetings.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with clients and colleagues across the Council.

Job description

Permanent | Full and part time hours available | 30 - 37 hours per week

Salary range: £46,579 - £50,908 (pro rata)

Market Supplement: £5,000

Employer Pension contribution: - (pro rata)

Total package value, - (pro rata)

Work base: County Hall, Exeter

Relocation packages are available for exceptional candidates out of area.

Successful candidates will receive 31 days' annual leave (pro-rata). Additional leave purchase options and flexible working arrangements are also available.

We are building the next chapter of Legal Services in Devon, and we would like you to be part of it. Following a recent restructure, designed to strengthen the service for the future, a number of our colleagues have successfully progressed into new roles. Their progression has created opportunities across our newly structured service and we are now looking for talented people to join us. With opportunities at different stages of a legal career, this is a great time to join, develop and make your mark in Devon.

We have an exciting opportunity to join our highly regarded Property Team, where no two days are ever the same. The team handles a diverse and stimulating caseload, ranging from straightforward land disposals through to complex and high-profile compulsory purchase orders. The team's work is varied and exciting, with property transactions including Schools, Industrial Estates and the Council's County Farms portfolio. The work is varied, and from start to finish, you'll be involved in work that genuinely makes a difference.

This is a fast-paced and intellectually challenging role that will see you thinking on your feet, developing your expertise as you go, and sharing knowledge with a supportive and collaborative team. While demanding, the work is exceptionally rewarding and offers real professional satisfaction.

We are looking for a confident and capable property lawyer with strong technical experience and a proven track record. Experience in local government would be an advantage, but it is not essential. What truly matters is a genuine commitment to understanding how a local authority operates and applying that knowledge to deliver the best possible outcomes for Devon County Council and the people of Devon.

You will be eager to expand into new areas of law and comfortable providing clear, pragmatic advice at pace across a broad range of legal issues. As a member of the Property Team within Devon County Council's Legal Services department, you will play a vital role in supporting the organisation’s objectives. In return, we will support you to succeed with flexible working arrangements, modern technology, and - most importantly - the trust and autonomy to use your professional judgment. You'll be empowered to make decisions, tackle complex and challenging matters, and apply your legal expertise where it truly counts.

As a Lawyer within the Property Team, you will provide expert legal advice and assistance to the Council on a wide range of property-related matters.

• Draft and negotiate complex contracts for sale, transfer deeds, collaboration agreements, overage deeds, leases, licences, and other property related documentation on behalf of the Council. Some of this documentation will cover new and innovative projects with no precedent documentation available.
• Provide expert legal advice to officers across all levels of the Council across all directorates on a wide and complex range of property matters including schools, county farms, collaborative partnerships with other public bodies and cross authority matters.
• Respond to members of the public on property and highways related queries
• To advise stakeholders on matters of cross-authority content, attend panels and join project boards.
• Review and approve Cabinet Reports as necessary
• Provide supervision and support to junior members of the team on complicated cases or property transactions.
• Support the Principal Lawyer in the attendance of meetings
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with clients and colleagues across the Council.

About You

• Qualified solicitors, barristers, or hold a CILEX professional qualification (or equivalent), and are registered with the relevant professional body.
• Extensive and relevant experience in property law area with experience leading complex matters and transactions
• Ability to develop and maintain effective working relationships at all levels of the County Council and its partner organisations.
• Ability to work autonomously and make relevant decisions
• Excellent communicators, both written and verbal, with strong organisational and prioritisation skills.
• Competent in using Microsoft Office and case management systems, including effective time recording.
• Able to manage their own caseload, work to deadlines, and develop creative solutions quickly.
• Committed to equality, professionalism, and the values of Devon County Council.
• Experience in a local government setting preferable (but not essential)