Planning Lawyer

Islington Council; Greater London; On-site; GBP 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Leave allowance 31 days

Flexible working

Learning & development

London Living Wage

LGPS pension

Cycle to Work

Gym discounts

Local discounts

Job summary

Islington Council seeks a Planning Lawyer to join the Legal Services planning team in London. You will handle planning and highways matters, work with colleagues across services, and advise planning committees.

A qualified solicitor, barrister or FILEX is required, with a collaborative, team-oriented mindset. We offer extensive benefits and flexible working arrangements, with a strong commitment to equality, inclusion, and staff development.

Qualifications

• Qualified solicitor, barrister or FILEX to join our in-house team.
• Specialise in planning and highways law and related legislation.
• Experience advising planning committees.

Responsibilities

• Work collaboratively with colleagues across services dealing with planning and highways projects.
• Deal with planning and highways matters including section 106 agreements, planning appeals and judicial reviews.

Skills

Planning law

Highways law

Advising planning committees

Team player

Education

Qualified solicitor or barrister or FILEX

Job description

About The Role

Job Overview

Following a recent reorganisation, an exciting opportunity has arisen within Legal Services for a dedicated, enthusiastic Planning Lawyer to join the team. If you thrive in a fast-paced environment and have a passion for public service, this could be your next career step.

Main duties of the job

The primary function of the post will be to work collaboratively with colleagues across services dealing with planning and highways projects.

We are looking for a qualified solicitor, barrister or FILEX to join our high-performing in-house team as a Planning Lawyer, specialising in planning and highways law and related legislation and experience of advising planning committees. You will have to be highly motivated and a team player.

Working for our organisation

You will be working within the planning team within the legal services department responsible for dealing with both contentious and non-contentious planning and highways matters including section 106 agreements, planning appeals and judicial reviews.

The post has a number of key duties but also involves responding to a rapidly changing environment. You must be adaptable, flexible and able to prioritise tasks on a daily basis.

For further information or for an informal conversation about the post, please contact:

Name and Job Title: Laura Avery, Principal Planning Lawyer

Email: [email protected]

About You

Working for the team, service and our organisation

Islington is a place rich with diversity and culture. As a council our sense of purpose couldn’t be clearer: we serve. It’s in the logo. We are committed to challenging inequality in the borough and as one of the largest employers we know that to look after the place and the planet, we have to look after our people.

Together we can change the future.

We are determined to create a more equal Islington, where everyone who lives here has an equal chance to thrive.

To do this, everyone who works at Islington Council lives by a set of values which guide us in everything that we do: collaborative, ambitious, resourceful, and empowering. They spell out ‘CARE’, which is what we think public service is all about.

Our offer to you

We are committed to challenging inequality in the borough and as one of the largest employers we know that to look after the place and the planet, we have to look after our people. Our staff benefits include:

• Up to 31 days leave per year, increasing to 36 days after five years of local government service
• A range of flexible working arrangements to maintain a healthy work-life balance, as well as a 35-hour working week
• Learning and development opportunities to maximise your potential
• Competitive pay and a commitment to paying all staff the London Living Wage at minimum
• Excellent local government pension scheme
• Cycle to Work scheme and discounted gym memberships
• Local discounts from restaurants, shops, health and beauty therapists, and more!

Please note:

Priority will be given to those at risk of redundancy within Islington Council. Current employees who are part of the redeployment pool must meet the essential criteria for shortlisting to be prioritised.

Workforce Equality, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Statement

We are dedicated to creating an inclusive and equitable workforce, where everyone is treated with dignity and respect. Our workforce strategy places equality, equity, diversity, and inclusion at the heart of everything we do, reaffirming our commitment to fostering a culture of inclusion. We strive to create an environment where all colleagues feel they belong and can safely express their thoughts, ideas, and challenges, without fear of judgement or discrimination.

We maintain a zero-tolerance approach to any unlawful discrimination, harassment, or victimisation on the grounds of any protected characteristics under the 2010 Equality Act, including but not limited to race, disability, sexual orientation, sex, religion and belief, age, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy, and maternity. Any incidents of discrimination will be promptly investigated and addressed in line with our HR policies to ensure a safe and inclusive environment for all colleagues.

We use data to identify and address disparities, ensuring that our policies and practices are transparent and impactful in promoting a diverse representation of backgrounds and perspectives at all levels of the organisation. We look at inequality through an intersectional lens, recognising that different aspects of someone’s identity can combine to create unique experiences of discrimination and disadvantage.

We know that advancing diversity and inclusion is a continuous journey, and we must listen to our colleagues and learn where we can further improve. We work closely with our Colleague Forums and Trade Unions, supported by active allies from our Corporate Management Team, to monitor and evaluate our practices, identify barriers, and empower colleagues to promote equality and inclusion in the workplace.

Every one of us has a role to play in making Islington Council a truly inclusive workplace. By living out our CARE (collaborative, ambitious, resourceful, and empowering) values every day and embedding the principles of equality, equity, diversity, and inclusion in our work, we can all actively contribute to empowering people and creating a more equal Islington.

Pre‑Employment Checks

Any offer of employment will be subject to the successful completion of required pre‑employment checks. These may include:

• Proof of address
• Evidence of any name changes (if applicable)
• Right to work in the UK
• Overseas criminal record check (if applicable)
• Satisfactory references
• Occupational Health clearance
• Evidence of professional qualifications or registrations
• DBS check at the appropriate level (if applicable)

Safeguarding

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults, and expects all staff, and volunteers to share this commitment. Some posts are subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.

Disability Confident Scheme

Islington Council operates a guaranteed interview scheme for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum criteria and we are committed to providing support to applicants who request reasonable adjustments to be made during the recruitment process and throughout their career with us.