Paralegal – Planning

Foot Anstey; Southampton; Hybrid; GBP 26,000 - 36,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Salary bonus

Sabbaticals

Parental leave

Private healthcare

Job summary

Foot Anstey is seeking a Paralegal for the Planning & Environmental team in Southampton. You will assist with planning matters, draft submissions, and support due diligence on developments across energy, infrastructure, and development sectors.

The role offers exposure to high-profile projects within a nationally recognised planning practice and a path to a long-term career in planning law.

Responsibilities

• Support planning lawyers on Town and Country Planning Act matters, Development Consent Orders, NSIPs and major development schemes.
• Draft legal documents, correspondence and planning-related submissions; provide administrative and project-management support to the team.
• Conduct legal research into planning legislation, policy and case law; assist with due diligence and planning/ Infrastructure agreements.

Job description

Job Title: Paralegal – Planning & Environmental

Ready to take your career to the next level?

We’re one of the UK’s most forward-thinking law firms, built on a foundation of innovation, collaboration, and ambition. Join us, and let’s shape the future together.

Being refreshingly human starts with how we hire. We believe a diverse mix of perspectives makes us stronger – not just as a business, but in creating a culture where we all feel we truly belong and can thrive. That’s why we’re committed to removing barriers and creating fair opportunities for everyone.

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The role in 60 seconds:

• Role: Paralegal
• Location: Southampton
• Working Pattern: Full-time

Why this role matters: You will support the Planning and Environmental Team on a broad range of matters, helping to deliver high-quality legal services to clients across the developer, energy and infrastructure sectors. You’ll assist with legal research, document management and production, review and report on planning and infrastructure agreements, and undertake due diligence. In doing so, you’ll play an important role in the successful delivery of complex projects that shape communities, support sustainable growth and deliver lasting social, environmental and economic benefits.

This role offers an excellent opportunity to gain experience in a nationally recognised planning practice and develop a long-term career in planning law.

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What you’ll do

You’ll work closely with experienced planning lawyers on a range of high-profile development, regeneration, energy and infrastructure projects. You’ll gain early exposure to complex legal matters, develop your technical and commercial skills, and build a strong foundation for a successful legal career.

In this role, you’ll:

• Support lawyers on a broad range of planning matters, including Town and Country Planning Act matters, Development Consent Orders (DCOs), nationally significant infrastructure projects (NSIPs) and major development schemes.
• Draft legal documents, correspondence and planning-related submissions, and provide legal, administrative and project-management support to the team.
• Undertake legal research into planning legislation, policy, case law and regulatory developments.
• Assist with due diligence exercises, document reviews, planning and infrastructure agreements, planning appeals, judicial review proceedings and matter management.
• Support client reporting, knowledge management and the day-to-day operation of matters across the team.

What we’re looking for

• A genuine interest in planning law and the role development, regeneration, energy and infrastructure projects play in shaping places and communities.
• Strong attention to detail and the ability to analyse and interpret complex information.
• A flexible and proactive approach, with the ability to work effectively as part of a busy and collaborative team.
• Excellent communication skills and the ability to build strong relationships with colleagues and clients.
• Proven organisational skills, with the ability to manage competing priorities and meet deadlines.
• Strong IT skills, including confident use of Microsoft Outlook, Word, Excel and Teams.
• Previous experience in a legal or professional services environment would be advantageous but is not essential. We welcome applications from candidates at different stages of their legal career, including graduates, aspiring solicitors undertaking the SQE and individuals with a demonstrable interest in planning law and the built environment.

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What if I don’t tick every box?

We’re not box tickers. We appreciate the need for everyone to find a role that challenges them and gives them room for growth.

If you bring transferable skills and a fresh perspective, we’d love to hear from you. If this role excites you and you have the skills to succeed, we encourage you to apply.

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Join a seriously ambitious firm

At Foot Anstey, we’re committed to making a difference for our people, our clients, and society. Here’s what makes us stand out:

• An ambitious growth strategy that opens up opportunities for our people to make their mark.
• A client base that spans household names, thriving startups, and ambitious enterprises.
• A culture built on our values of being refreshingly human, entrepreneurial, inclusive and collaborative.
• A strong focus on being a responsible business with a commitment to sustainability and giving back to our communities.
• Comprehensive professional development and training – whatever your role and level we have training that will support you to achieve your goals.

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Progressive benefits tailored to you

We believe our people are our greatest asset. That’s why we offer a comprehensive benefits package designed to support your professional growth and personal wellbeing, including:

• Competitive salary and performance-linked bonus.
• Employee sabbaticals.
• Enhanced parental leave policies.
• Private healthcare and wellbeing initiatives (e.g., mental health support, gym memberships).
• For a full list of our competitive benefits package, please click here

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Let’s make your next career move the start of something extraordinary.

We are proud to be an Equal Opportunities Employer. As part of our commitment to diversity and inclusion, we invite applicants to complete optional demographic questions. Any information you choose to share will be anonymised and not linked to your application.

For applicants in Northern Ireland: To meet our obligations under the Fair Employment & Treatment (NI) Order 1998, we monitor community background and sex to promote equality of opportunity. While you’re not required to answer these questions, we encourage you to do so. Your responses will be used anonymously for reporting to the Equality Commission and will not influence any recruitment or employment decisions.

Community Background: In Northern Ireland, individuals are often perceived as belonging to either the Protestant or Roman Catholic communities, regardless of religious practice. If this section is left blank, we may use the residuary method to determine community background based on the personal information in your application.

To find out more about Diversity and Inclusion at our firm – click here