Planning and Environment Lawyer (Senior Legal Adviser)

Shared Services Partnership; Winchester; Hybrid; GBP 48,000 - 55,000; Full time

Job summary

A local authority in England is seeking an experienced in-house Planning and Environment Lawyer to provide legal advice and representation. This role offers competitive pay between £48,948 and £54,423 annually, with additional benefits, and allows for hybrid working arrangements. Candidates should have relevant qualifications and be skilled in legal judgment and client relations. Join the team to make a meaningful impact in the community.

Benefits

Access to Local Government Pension Scheme

25-28 days annual leave

Electric plug-in hybrid car Salary Sacrifice Scheme

Interest free travel loans and discounts

Employee Support Services

Family friendly policies

Access to online professional legal research resources

Qualifications

• Must have a current practising certificate for England & Wales.
• Demonstrate sound legal skills and judgment.
• Must have strong client relationship and communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Provide legal advice and representation to the County Council’s directorates.
• Take responsibility for a large and varied casework.
• Assist and mentor colleagues.

Skills

Sound legal skills and judgment

Strong client relationship skills

Communication skills

Ability to work independently in a team

Resilience and motivation

Ability to prioritize effectively

Education

Qualified Solicitor, Barrister or Chartered Legal Executive (CILEX)

Job description

Job Details

Job Reference : HCC622673

Salary Range : £48,948 - £54,423 per annum, plus Market Supplement of £4,500 per annum (depending on experience and qualifications)

Work Location : Elizabeth II Court, Winchester (Hybrid Working)

Hours per week : 37

Contract Type : Permanent

Closing Date : 27 November 2025

Interview Date : 8 and 9 December 2025

Please note applications will be reviewed once submitted, therefore this advert may close early depending on volumes of applications received

The Role

Join our friendly and supportive Lexcel accredited legal department, passionate about delivering the best for Hampshire and making a real difference to the community!

Hampshire County Council is recognised nationally as one of the highest performing local authorities in the UK. Our large legal service supports all Hampshire County Council directorates and a wide range of other public service organisations. Working on matters that are as challenging as they are rewarding, you will advise on a range of interesting, varied, meaningful, high profile and complex projects at the very forefront of public interest, delivering improvements to people's lives.

What you’ll do

You will join the Planning and Environment Team, working with colleagues in all Hampshire County Council directorates and third-party clients.

This role includes the provision of legal advice and representation to the County Council’s directorates, committees, members and other external partners and client bodies. Your role will not only increase the efficiency of the team but also that of the County Council as a whole and offers the unique level of support that comes with working within our well-respected team and Hampshire County Council generally.

You will take responsibility for a large and varied casework, some of which may be complex planning work such as s.106, s.278 and s.38 agreements, legal research, public inquiries and offering assistance and mentoring to colleagues.

What we’re looking for

We are looking for an in-house Planning and Environment Lawyer who must be a qualified Solicitor, Barrister or Chartered Legal Executive Lawyer (Fellow of CILEX) with a current practising certificate for England & Wales. You will be successful in the role if you are able to demonstrate sound legal skills and judgment; a pragmatic solution focussed approach; strong client relationship and communication skills; an ability to work on your own initiative and within a strong team with a collaborative approach; resilience and motivation; and an ability to prioritise effectively to meet strict deadlines.

Why join us

Having successfully adopted online and hybrid working, we can consider candidates from out of the area, working partially remotely and from our offices in Winchester.

As a forward-looking local authority, our commitment to delivering an exceptional quality of life to our Hampshire residents also extends to our employees. It is important to us that our staff feel supported in their work. As such we can offer you an improved work-life balance through flexible working and an excellent benefits package including:

• Access to Local Government Pension Scheme
• Between 25 - 28 days annual leave entitlement (dependent on Local Authority service)
• Electric plug-in hybrid car Salary Sacrifice Scheme
• Interest free travel loans and discounts
• Employee Support Services
• Family friendly policies
• Access to online professional legal research resources

To learn more about the HLS team, please visit Hampshire Legal Services .

Contact Details for an Informal Discussion

Caroline Stickland, Legal Team Leader on [e-mail] or 0370 779 4147, or Sheena Sayer, Legal Team Leader on [e-mail] or 0370 779 4916

No agencies please.

Hampshire County Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and adults. We expect all employees, workers and volunteers to share this commitment. We will ensure that all our recruitment and selection practices reflect this commitment.

In order to combat discrimination, no unnecessary conditions or requirements will be applied which could have a disproportionately adverse effect on any one group. All sections of the population will have equal access to jobs. No applicant or employee will receive less favourable treatment because of age, disability, gender reassignment, race, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation, marriage or civil partnership and pregnancy or maternity, unless a Genuine Occupational Requirement (GOR) applies.

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