Legal Assistant (Planning and Highways)

Aatom Recruitment; Whittington; Hybrid; GBP 19,000 - 25,000; Part time

Job summary

Aatom Recruitment Limited is seeking a Legal Assistant (Planning and Highways) for a Local Authority on a 3-month contract. The role combines conveyancing duties with planning and highways matters, offering hybrid working (3 days remote, 2 in-office) and 35 hours per week.

Ideal candidates will have experience in land law and related areas, strong communication and organisational skills, and the ability to manage complex files to tight deadlines within a local government setting.

Qualifications

• Essential: conveyancing and land or related law.
• Desirable: highway and/or planning law.
• Desirable: knowledge of local government and public services.

Responsibilities

• Assist departments on legal matters concerning land and property, especially highways.
• Draft and peruse titles and agreements; conduct searches.
• Deal with s.106 planning agreements and related steps.
• Prepare licences, easements and wayleaves as needed.
• Support traffic regulation orders and public rights of way.
• Assist in sealing documents and conveyancing tasks.

Skills

Communication skills

Numeracy

Organisation

Time management

Confidentiality

Interpersonal skills

Education

A-levels or equivalent

Legal qualification in Land Law

Job description

Aatom Recruitment is looking for Legal Assistant (Planning and Highways) on behalf of a Local Authority.

Job Title: Legal Assistant (Planning and Highways)

Contract Duration: 3 Months

Hours Per Week: 35

Work Pattern: 3 days remote 2 days in the office

Main Activities & Responsibilities:

• To assist all departments of the County Council on legal matters concerning land and property, particularly when it affects Highways
• To provide information and advice as required on legal matters concerning land, property and in particular highways and planning.
• To deal with agreements under the Highways Act 1980 for the making up and adoption of new streets and ways (including perusing titles, drafting agreements, making searches and generally taking all necessary steps to protect the interests of the Highway Authority).
• To deal with dedication of land for highway purposes by way of deeds of dedication.
• To deal with licences, wayleaves and easements
• To deal with s.106 Town and Country Planning Act 1990 agreements (including perusing titles, drafting agreements, making searches and generally taking all necessary steps to protect the interests of the County Council ).
• To provide support on matters relating to traffic regulation orders and public rights of way
• To deal with the sealing of all documents requiring the affixing of the Council's Common Seal.To assist in the carrying out of any matter for the time being undertaken by the Conveyancing Section and in particular Part 1 claims under the Land Compensation Act 1973 and Land Registry 816 Notices
• To assist the Principal Conveyancer with procedural matters relating to Commons and Village Greens
• To contribute to the implementation and development of appropriate policies, systems and practices relevant to the Section as may be required.
• To take all reasonable steps to ensure where appropriate confidentiality.
• To bring to the attention of the Principal Solicitor any matter of which the Monitoring Officer ought to be aware.

EXPERIENCE: (Of delivering outcome/objectives/service improvements etc, not just time served)

• It is essential that the post holder has: Demonstrable experience in conveyancing and land or related law (such as highways or planning agreements)
• It is desirable that the post holder has: A working knowledge of highway and /or planning law. A working knowledge of local government and public services.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES:

• Excellent inter-personal skills with an ability to communicate effectively, written and verbal, with a wide range of people including senior managers and outside agencie
• Good numeracy skills
• Excellent organisational and time management skill
• The ability to manage own workload, even with interruptions
• The ability to work within agreed timescales and to quality standards
• The capability to work under pressure and still meet deadlines
• The ability to be flexible in approach to issues and able to find the most appropriate solution to problems
• The ability to respond positively to change
• The ability to deal with staff and customers in a polite and professional manner
• The ability to network with a wide range of people and contacts
• An ability to maintain absolute confidentiality

QUALIFICATIONS/TRAINING & DEVELOPMENT:

• It is essential that the post holder has: a good general education to at least an ‘A’ Level standard, including G.C.S.E. or equivalent in English
• It is desirable that the post holder has: Professional Legal Executive or other legal qualification in Land Law