Planning Lawyer

Southwark Council; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 50,000 - 57,000; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

Staff benefits

Local government pension

Hybrid working

Job summary

Southwark Council is seeking a Planning Lawyer to provide expert legal advice on planning and development matters in a large urban authority. You will support committees, councillors, and officers and handle complex planning issues from the outset.

The role requires a current practising certificate (Solicitor, Barrister, or CILEx) and a strong grasp of local government planning, highways, and related processes. Hybrid working with travel to London Bridge HQ is offered.

Qualifications

• Current practising certificate as admitted Solicitor, Barrister, or CILEx.
• Strong knowledge of local government law, especially planning and highways.
• Proven post-qualification experience in planning law.

Responsibilities

• Provide expert legal advice on planning and development.
• Advise committees, councillors, and officers on planning law.
• Draft and negotiate planning agreements (Section 106/278/38).
• Assist with planning appeals, judicial reviews, and enforcement.
• Manage a diverse caseload from outset.
• Ensure compliance with Lexcel standards.

Skills

Legal qualification

Planning law

Local government law

Stakeholder management

Caseload management

Strategic thinking

Risk assessment

Team collaboration

Flexible working

Education

Legal qualification (Solicitor/Barrister/CILEx)

Job description

For this role we are welcoming applications from candidates seeking either part-time or full-time employment. We recognise that flexibility is important, and we are committed to considering talented individuals from a variety of working backgrounds and preferences. Whether you are looking for a full-time position or a part-time opportunity, we encourage you to apply, as both options will be considered for the right candidate.

Southwark Council is the largest local authority social landlord in London, managing 55,000 homes lived in by 40% of Southwark’s residents. We are home to over 18,300 businesses including iconic London venues such as The Shard, The Tate Modern and Borough Market along with many social enterprises and we have a young, diverse, and growing population.

At Southwark we are committed to making our borough just and fair and are taking positive action to tackle inequalities. Our residents and communities are our greatest asset and the passion we have for Southwark is shared by millions of Londoners who enjoy our outstanding cultural offer, use our hospitals, and attend our universities.

Our refreshed borough plan and focus on Southwark Stands Together, (which is our work with Southwark’s communities and the council’s staff to tackle racism, injustice, and inequality) underpins all that we do.

What You'll Be Doing

As a Planning Lawyer at Southwark Council, you will provide expert legal advice and support on all matters relating to planning and development.

• You’ll tackle complex legal challenges and provide expert advice to a wide range of stakeholders.
• Deliver strategic insights on Planning issues and legislative impacts on council services.
• Manage a diverse and stimulating caseload from the outset.
• Advise committees, councillors, and officers on planning law.
• Draft and negotiate section 106, section 278, and section 38 agreements.
• Assist with planning appeals, judicial reviews, and enforcement matters.
• Ensure compliance with Lexcel standards and best legal practices.

Benefits and more information:

• In your role, we want you to feel supported, challenged and rewarded. You will benefit from a local government pension scheme, plus many other staff benefits. You will join a motivated, driven and supportive team that strives for excellence and values its members. For more information about the wide variety of benefits you can take advantage of please visit our Staff Benefits.
• -Competitive Salary & Pension: Rewarding your hard work with a great package.
• - Growth Opportunities: Access extensive training and development, both internally and externally.
• - Benefits package to the value of £2,327 per annum (pro rata April - March) which can use be towards: gym membership, health insurance, season ticket purchase, bicycle purchase, additional voluntary contribution to pension, subscriptions and professional fees.

We’re looking for a highly skilled and proactive Planning Lawyer who can hit the ground running. To be successful in this role, you’ll need to bring a blend of the following:

• A current practising certificate as an admitted Solicitor, Barrister, or Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Legal Executives (or eligibility to apply for one).
• A strong understanding of local government law, particularly in relation to planning and ideally highways.
• A good level of post-qualification experience in planning law (or significant pre-qualification experience).
• The ability to build and maintain strong relationships with stakeholders.
• A track record of managing a varied caseload and meeting performance targets.
• Exceptional problem-solving skills and the ability to think strategically.
• Confidently manage risk using sound judgment and critical analysis.
• Embrace the opportunity to work with a diverse team, both within the legal service and across the council.
• This role offers flexible home working blended with travel into our London Bridge HQ.

Contact Information:

For an informal discussion about the role, please contact KamilDolebski at [e-mail]

Additional Information

Closing Date: 09/10/2026

Shortlisting Date: 12/10/2026

Interview Date: 16/10/2026

Hours of Work: Monday to Friday (36hrs per week) Part Time or Full Time - Flexibility to be discussed.

Location:160 Tooley Street, London, SE1 2QH

Type of Contract: Permanent

DBS: No DBS is Required for this role.

The closing date is given as a guide. We reserve the right to close this vacancy once a sufficient number of applications has been received. We strongly advise you to complete your application as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.

Southwark Council will only contact candidates through official Council recruitment channels. We will not ask you to provide passport details, proof of address, National Insurance number, bank details or payment at application stage. These checks are only requested at the onboarding process – once an offer of employment has been made. If you’re unsure whether a communication you’ve received is genuine, please contact the Resourcing team directly on [e-mail] before sharing any personal information.

We are an organisation who is passionate about our people and understands that richness of diversity is a requirement to provide the best possible services to our communities. This is demonstrated through our council-wide ambitious commitment to tackle racial inequality in our communities and workforce through our Southwark Stands Together initiative . We particularly welcome applications from members of the black, Asian and ethnic minority communities to increase representation at senior management level in the Council.

As part of our commitment to inclusion, we offer guaranteed interviews for specific groups of people. To qualify, you'll need to meet the minimum requirements for the role, and identify with one of the below criteria:

• Members of the Armed Forces and veterans
• Are currently in care, or have previously been in care
• If you consider yourself to be disabled or if you have a long-term health condition

Salary Range (Full time equivalent) £50,175 - £57,495