Planning Senior Associate

JMC Legal Recruitment; West Yorkshire; On-site; GBP 110,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

JMC Legal Recruitment is seeking a Planning Senior Associate in Leeds with 5+ PQE. You will join a Tier 1 Planning team aligned with a leading Infrastructure practice and work on high-profile projects across transport, energy, and the green energy transition.

The role offers real responsibility, collaboration with top lawyers, and a structured pathway toward partnership in a supportive, balanced culture.

Qualifications

• A qualified Solicitor with 5+ years PQE in Planning law.
• Proven experience handling complex planning matters for significant clients, ideally at a top-tier or international firm.
• Commercially minded and client-focused, with strong communication skills.
• A natural collaborator who enjoys supporting junior colleagues and contributing to the wider development of the team.

Responsibilities

• Development consent orders, section 106 agreements, land assembly strategy, public inquiries and complex multi-disciplinary projects.
• Operate with real responsibility and work alongside leading Planning lawyers on national-scale matters.

Skills

Planning law

Client relationships

Mentoring juniors

Team collaboration

Commercial awareness

Education

Solicitor qualification

Job description

Planning Senior Associate | 5+ Years PQE | Top 25 International | Leeds

If you are a senior Planning lawyer looking for a genuine step up in the quality and profile of your work, this is worth your attention. A Tier 1 ranked team, a Top 25 international platform and some of the most significant planning and infrastructure projects in the country, all based from Leeds.

About the Firm

Recognised globally as one of the leading law firms, this Top 25 international firm holds numerous Tier 1 Legal 500 rankings across multiple practice areas and is renowned for nurturing some of the world's most respected legal talent. The firm combines cutting-edge legal innovation with a genuinely welcoming and supportive working culture.

Despite its global stature and impressive workload, the firm places real emphasis on work-life balance and has built an inclusive environment where lawyers feel genuinely valued and are actively supported in taking ownership of their own career progression. Professional development is taken seriously here, with clear and structured pathways that reward ambition and hard work.

The Work

You will join a Tier 1 Legal 500 Planning team that works at the very top of the market, sitting alongside one of the firm's most celebrated Infrastructure practices. That collaboration gives you access to a client base and a quality of instruction that few Planning teams anywhere in the country can match, with particular strength across transport, energy and the green energy transition.

Day to day the work is broad and genuinely stimulating. Development consent orders, section 106 agreements, land assembly strategy, public inquiries and complex multi-disciplinary projects are all a regular feature of the caseload. You will operate with real responsibility, work alongside some of the best Planning lawyers in the business and play a meaningful role in matters that shape the built environment at a national level.

What We Are Looking For

• A qualified Solicitor with 5+ years PQE in Planning law
• Proven experience handling complex planning matters for significant clients, ideally at a top-tier or international firm
• Commercially minded and client-focused, with strong communication skills
• A natural collaborator who enjoys supporting junior colleagues and contributing to the wider development of the team

What You Will Get

• A senior role within one of the country's most highly regarded Planning teams
• Exposure to landmark projects spanning multiple sectors and jurisdictions
• A clear and structured pathway towards partnership for the right candidate
• Genuine flexibility and a culture that supports a sustainable working life
• Market leading salary, strong bonus potential and a comprehensive benefits package