Planning & Environmental Solicitor / Associate - Belfast

VanRath; Belfast City District; Hybrid; GBP 60,000 - 95,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Market-leading remuneration

Flexible working arrangements

Job summary

VanRath is assisting a leading Northern Ireland law firm in Belfast, seeking a Planning & Environmental Solicitor/Associate. The role offers exposure to major development projects and a broad client base across public and private sectors, with strong career progression and a supportive environment.

You will join a leading specialist team renowned for commercially focused and technically strong advice on complex planning and environmental matters, with hybrid working options.

Qualifications

• Strong experience in planning and/or environmental law.
• Excellent technical, drafting and analytical skills.
• Ability to manage complex matters and develop strong client relationships.
• Commercial and pragmatic approach.
• Interested in developing your profile and career within a leading specialist practice.

Responsibilities

• Advising on planning applications, consents and appeals.
• Planning and environmental enforcement and regulatory matters.
• Environmental impact assessment and related environmental issues.
• Planning and environmental due diligence.
• Judicial review and public law challenges.
• Energy, renewables, infrastructure and development projects.
• Advising public authorities, developers, businesses and other key stakeholders.

Skills

Planning law

Environmental law

Commercial awareness

Job description

Planning & Environmental Solicitor / Associate - Belfast

An exceptional opportunity to join one of Northern Ireland's leading Planning & Environmental teams

We are delighted to be working with a highly regarded Northern Ireland law firm as it continues to grow its established Planning & Environmental practice. We are representing the firm in relation to this opportunity and would welcome confidential approaches from lawyers who may be interested in exploring a move.

This is an opportunity for an ambitious solicitor to join a leading, well-established team handling some of the most interesting and complex planning, environmental and public law matters in the market.

The team acts for an impressive mix of public and private sector clients, providing exposure to major development and infrastructure projects, energy and renewables, planning applications and appeals, environmental and regulatory matters, enforcement and judicial review.

The opportunity

You will become part of a specialist team with an excellent reputation for providing commercially focused, technically strong advice on complex matters.

Your work is likely to include:

• Advising on planning applications, consents and appeals;
• Planning and environmental enforcement and regulatory matters;
• Environmental impact assessment and related environmental issues;
• Planning and environmental due diligence;
• Judicial review and public law challenges;
• Energy, renewables, infrastructure and development projects;
• Advising public authorities, developers, businesses and other key stakeholders.

You will have the opportunity to work alongside highly experienced lawyers on high-quality matters, with excellent exposure to a broad range of clients and sectors.

Who are we looking for?

We are keen to speak with solicitors who have experience in planning and/or environmental law and who are looking for a move that offers genuine quality of work, career development and long-term progression.

We are deliberately keeping the level of seniority broad. Whether you are an established solicitor looking to take the next step, a senior associate seeking a new platform, or simply an experienced planning/environmental lawyer who would be interested in exploring the market, we would be very keen to hear from you.

You will ideally have:

• Strong experience in planning and/or environmental law;
• Excellent technical, drafting and analytical skills;
• The ability to manage complex matters and develop strong client relationships;
• A commercial and pragmatic approach;
• An interest in developing your profile and career within a leading specialist practice.

Experience of working with either public or private sector clients will be of interest, and experience across both would be particularly valuable.

Why this opportunity?

You will be joining a leading, well-established Planning & Environmental team with an excellent reputation in the Northern Ireland market and a strong pipeline of high-quality work.

The firm offers a genuinely attractive package, including market-leading remuneration and benefits, alongside excellent hybrid working and flexible working arrangements.

Most importantly, this is an opportunity to join a successful specialist practice where you can work alongside highly experienced lawyers, gain exposure to interesting and complex matters, develop your client relationships and progress your career within a supportive and high-performing environment.

For candidates currently working elsewhere, the firm is particularly keen to have confidential conversations with lawyers who may not otherwise be actively considering a move but would be interested in hearing about an exceptional opportunity.

The firm is open-minded on level and seniority and is interested in meeting strong candidates who can add to the team.