Planning and Highways Lawyer (Corporate Governance)

Trafford Council; Greater Manchester; Hybrid; GBP 40,000 - 51,000; Full time

Job summary

A local authority in Greater Manchester is seeking an experienced Planning and Highways Lawyer to provide legal advice in areas such as planning law and local government law. The successful candidate will support various stakeholders and represent the Council at meetings, providing clear and concise legal guidance. This full-time, permanent role offers a competitive salary and a supportive work environment focused on professional development.

Benefits

Development opportunities

Flexible workplace

Living Wage Employer

Qualifications

• Qualified solicitor or barrister with a current practising certificate.
• Experience in planning and highways law or local government law.
• Ability to communicate effectively with a wide range of stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Provide legal advice and assistance in planning and highways matters.
• Represent the Council at committee meetings and other forums.
• Conduct legal research and draft legal documentation.

Skills

Legal drafting

Representation

Stakeholder engagement

Commercial awareness

Research and analysis

Education

Qualified solicitor, barrister, or Chartered Lawyer

Job description

Planning and Highways Lawyer (Corporate Governance)

Employer - Trafford Council

Location - Trafford Town Hall, Talbot Road, Manchester, M32 0TH

Salary range - £40,777 - £50,269 (Band 8/9/10) dependent upon experience, plus market supplement of up to £2080

Trafford council is a Living Wage Employer.

Working Pattern - Full Time

Working hours - 36.25 hours per week, Monday - Friday

Contract type - Permanent

Application deadline - 23rd November 2025

Interview type - In person

About the Role

Due to the recent expansion of the Council's Corporate Governance team, we have an exciting opportunity for a Planning and Highways Lawyer to join the Council's Litigation Team. We are looking for an experienced Lawyer with the drive and determination to contribute to the team's exciting vision.

The role is within the Legal Services Corporate Governance Team, which provides legal advice, assistance and representation to the Council, its Elected Members, its Officers, schools and other clients in a wide range of areas including planning law, criminal and civil law, regulatory law and enforcement, community safety, employment law and debt recovery.

The post holder will support stakeholders by providing specialist and proactive legal advice and assistance across a range of areas arising within the post holder's area of responsibility including, but not limited to:

• Planning, including section 106 agreements, certificates of lawfulness, planning, planning enforcement and planning appeals
• Highways including section 38 Agreements, Traffic Orders and Tree Preservation Orders
• Environment including Housing, Building Control and Dangerous Buildings
• Local Government Law
• Data Protection

About you

The post holder will be a qualified solicitor, barrister, or Chartered Lawyer / Fellow of the Institute of Legal Executives holding a current practising certificate.

The post holder will have experience in one or more of the areas listed above and will be capable of:

• Developing and advising on a wide range of high-level complex and sensitive work
• Representing Legal Services at committee meetings and other meetings of the Council and also represent the council's interests with external organisations
• Supporting the Principal Solicitors, Monitoring Officer and Deputy Monitoring Officer as required
• Possessing up-to-date knowledge in respect of national trends, policy, legislation, guidelines, initiatives and best practice in Legal and Local Government
• Ensuring that the service meets all its statutory requirements and responsibilities
• Communicating and engaging with a wide range of stakeholders, building partnerships and productive working relationships to achieve shared objectives
• Preparing and conducting cases on behalf of the Council in the Magistrates, County and High Courts and before other Courts and Tribunals
• Providing concise and clear advice, carrying out legal research and analysis, and drafting legal documentation
• Working with commercial awareness and a “can do” approach
• Working closely with client departments across the whole of the Council, including elected members and committees, and providing customer care and interpersonal skills
• Demonstrating an understanding of the political environment within which you would be operating

You will be an experienced advocate and litigator who can prepare and conduct cases and will be skilled at drafting legal documentation. You will have commercial awareness and a “can do” approach, and you will work closely with client departments across the whole of the Council.

About us

Trafford Council and its partners in the public, private and third sectors have a Vision which sees us working together to close inequality gaps and maximise Trafford's huge potential.

Trafford is a lively, prosperous place to put down roots and build a career. The council and Trafford schools employ around 8,000 people, who are central to making the area great. The council offers its employees development opportunities, a fair and flexible workplace, and is a Living Wage Employer.

Additional Information

Flexibility will be required to work outside core hours as the post holder will provide advice and guidance to elected members and will attend a range of committees and boards on a rota basis. This will require some attendances in the evenings.

You will have flexibility in terms of hybrid working at home and in the office.

Please note the advert may close early if we receive a high number of applications so, please do not delay in submitting your application.

Contact Details

For an informal discussion, or to find out more about the role, please email Sajal Lenahan at [e-mail]

About the benefits

You will be welcomed into a friendly environment where your personal and professional development will be encouraged. You will have the opportunity to work and grow in a people‑centred and values‑based organisation that promotes a positive permission culture. Your opinions matter so you will have the opportunity to shape how we do things here at Trafford.

To learn more about Trafford as a place to work visit and to view more about our awards and benefits please visit: Trafford - Benefits | www.inploi.com (greater.jobs)

OTHER RELEVANT INFORMATION

Greater Manchester Continuous Service Commitment - greater.jobs | www.inploi.com

For this opportunity, you must be able to prove you have the right to work in the UK – if in doubt please visit the following link Employers' right to work checklist - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk). Please note we are not a licensed sponsor.

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