Planning & Highways Lawyer

Nottingham City Council, Leicestershire County Council, East Midlands Group; Blaby; Hybrid; GBP 39,000 - 54,000; Full time

Job summary

A regional public authority in England is seeking an experienced legal professional specializing in planning and highway law. This full-time permanent position involves providing legal advice and representation, working with developers, and attending planning committees. The ideal candidate will hold a professional legal qualification and have at least 2 years of relevant experience, showcasing strong communication and negotiation skills. The role supports a hybrid working model and offers a competitive salary ranging from £39,939 to £53,826 annually.

Benefits

Flexible working arrangements

Commitment to diversity and inclusion

Qualifications

• 2+ years of experience in planning and highway law.
• Experience in drafting S106 agreements and advising on planning issues.
• Ability to conduct negotiations and represent the Council at hearings.

Responsibilities

• Provide legal advice on planning and highway matters.
• Attend planning committees as a legal representative.
• Assist in delivering an efficient in-house legal service.

Skills

Legal expertise in planning and highway law

Strong communication skills

Negotiation skills

IT applications proficiency

Team player

Education

Professional qualification as Solicitor or equivalent

Tools

Microsoft Office

Legal research tools

Job description

Job Summary

Organisation: Leicestershire County Council

Work Location: County Hall Glenfield Leicestershire LE3 8RA

Worker Category: Hybrid Worker

Salary: 39939 - 53826 per annum (pro‑rate for part‑time)

Working Hours: 37 Working Hours per Week

Contract Type: Permanent

Closing Date: 4th January 2026

Interview Date(s): TBC

Leicestershire County Council has an opportunity for an ambitious lawyer with several years post‑qualification experience in planning and highway law including experience of attending planning committees to join a positive and friendly team of in‑house lawyers within Leicestershire County Council. The successful applicant will provide legal advice and representation to the County Council on a broad spectrum of planning and highway matters working with developers and other partners.

Applications are welcome from candidates with either a public or private sector background and the ideal candidate should be an enthusiastic motivated individual and possess good communication skills.

This vacancy is in the Environment and Property team which comprises a mix of professional and support staff. Members of the team enjoy a highly supportive working environment as well as a genuine work/life balance.

About the Role

To be a planning and highways specialist assisting in the provision of an efficient and effective in‑house legal service to the County Council and in particular to the County Councils planning, highways and environment and related functions within the responsibility of the Director of Environment and Transport.

About You

To apply for this post you must :

• Professional qualification as an admitted Solicitor, Barrister entitled to practice, Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Legal Executives or Associate or Graduate Member working towards admission as a Fellow.
• Demonstrable recent experience (2 years) of dealing with legal work in the following areas in the areas of planning and highway law to include: attendance as legal representative at planning committees, drafting and negotiating and advising upon S106 planning agreements and highway infrastructure agreements, advisory work at senior level in relation to both planning and highway enforcement matters, advocacy at tribunals and hearings.
• Confident and comfortable in the conduct of complex and fast‑moving negotiations in relation to all aspects of planning and highways matters. Able to use IT applications including a computerised case management and legal research and time recording systems.
• Up to date legal knowledge to include planning and highways legislation.
• Ability to communicate effectively orally and in writing with members, colleagues, customers and internal and external stakeholders and to persuade and influence an appropriate outcome.
• Ability to research and assimilate information rapidly and present effective client‑focused solutions and appropriate advice and guidance in a timely manner. Able to work accurately under pressure with minimum supervision to achieve objectives and deadlines.
• To be a team player, personable and generate confidence. Possession of a current driving licence and access to a vehicle. Reasonable adjustment will be considered for an applicant with a disability.

You must also have an understanding of and commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion.

In addition we also expect you to share our commitment to our values and will ask you to evidence when you have demonstrated them as part of the selection process.

Reasonable adjustments will be considered for applicants with a disability.

Flexible Working

We are keen to support employees to balance their working life with other commitments. Therefore wherever possible we will consider working arrangements that suit an individual's personal circumstances whilst still meeting the needs of the Council. If you would like to discuss the possible flexible working options that might be applicable to this role please contact the person named below. This may include requests for term‑time working, part‑time hours, compressed hours, flexible start and finish times, home/remote working etc.

Contact: Katy Jobanputra, Team Leader

How to Apply

Leicestershire County Council is an inclusive organisation which is on a journey to embed and celebrate equality, diversity and inclusion at every level. We warmly welcome and encourage applications from people of all backgrounds as having a diverse workforce with different perspectives and ideas is fundamental to our values and enriches the services we offer our communities. We particularly welcome applicants from Ethnically Diverse and LGBTQ Plus communities and people with disabilities to create a balanced workforce and one that reflects the communities we serve. Applicants with a disability who meet the criteria listed in the About You section above will be offered an interview under the Disability Confident Employer Scheme.

To apply for this job please click on the apply button. You will need to upload a supporting statement as part of your application which explains how you meet the criteria listed in the About You section above.

We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive sufficient applications for the role. Therefore if you are interested please submit your application as early as possible.

To apply for this job you must be able to upload a supporting statement explaining how you meet the criteria listed in the About You section above. For more information see the How to Apply section on our career site.

• Time Management
• Microsoft Office
• Communication skills
• Computer Skills
• Microsoft Word
• Banking
• Legal Research
• Microsoft Powerpoint
• Microsoft Excel
• Underwriting
• Phone Etiquette

Employment Type: Full‑Time

Experience: Years

Vacancy: 1

Yearly Salary: 39939 - 53826