Planning Associate

JMC Legal Recruitment Limited; West of England; Hybrid; GBP 75,000 - 110,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid working

Career progression pathway

Broad benefits package

Job summary

JMC Legal Recruitment Limited is seeking a Planning Solicitor in Bristol with 3+ PQE to handle development consent orders, CPOs and related planning work. You will run discrete streams and work alongside top partners shaping national policy and advising on major schemes.

You will engage directly with clients, manage a varied caseload and contribute to cross‑disciplinary projects with energy, real estate and environmental teams. Hybrid working and clear career paths are offered.

Qualifications

• 3+ PQE in planning law and strong technical foundations.
• Ability to communicate confidently with clients and counsel.
• A pragmatic, solution‑focused approach to project risk.

Responsibilities

• Run your own matters on development consent orders, planning agreements, compulsory purchase orders, judicial review, and strategic land advice.
• Work with partners who are leaders in the field to gain real client exposure and early responsibility.
• Contribute to cross-disciplinary projects with energy, real estate and environmental colleagues on complex transactions.
• Develop sector knowledge in renewables, nuclear, transport, or food and farming.

Skills

Planning law

Client communication

Commercial awareness

Job description

Planning Solicitor | 3+ PQE | Bristol

A leading UK independent law firm with a market reputation for planning and compulsory purchase work is looking for a 3+ PQE solicitor to join its Bristol team. The firm is consistently recognised as a top-tier planning practice, with particular depth in NSIPs, CPO, regeneration, renewable energy, and transport infrastructure.

You will not be a junior observer on these matters. From the outset, you will be running discrete work streams, advising clients directly, and sitting alongside partners who are shaping national policy as much as they are advising on individual schemes.

The Team

The team is known for:

• Advising both public and private sector clients on the full development cycle: consenting strategy, legal challenges, implementation
• Leading on complex infrastructure projects, including NSIPs, highways, and major regeneration
• Deep CPO expertise for councils, developers and acquiring authorities
• A collaborative, open culture where senior lawyers are genuinely approachable

The Role

• Run your own matters on a varied caseload: development consent orders, planning agreements, compulsory purchase orders, judicial review, and strategic land advice
• Work alongside partners who are recognised leaders in the field, you will have real client exposure and early responsibility
• Contribute to cross-disciplinary projects, working with energy, real estate and environmental colleagues on multi-faceted transactions
• Develop sector knowledge in areas like renewables, nuclear, transport, or food and farming

What You Bring

• 3+ PQE in planning law, with strong technical foundations and a desire to work on nationally significant matters
• A pragmatic, solution-focused approach, you know how to advise on risk without killing a project
• Confidence to communicate directly with clients and counsel

The Firm

• A large, independent UK firm
• An all-equity partnership and lockstep model that reinforces collaboration, not internal competition
• Consistently named as one of the best law firms to work at in the UK, praised for approachability, openness, and genuine teamwork
• Hybrid working, clear career pathways, and a broad benefits package

Why This Makes Sense

This role offers the latter. Top-tier work. A collaborative, high-trust culture. And Bristol, which gives you City-quality matters without London hours.

If you want to build a planning career around genuinely significant infrastructure and development work, this is the move.