Principal Lawyer (Planning and Highways)

Pathfinder Legal Services Ltd; Northampton; Hybrid; GBP 59,000 - 74,000; Full time

Job summary

An established industry player is seeking a Principal Lawyer specializing in Planning and Highways. This role involves providing expert legal advice, managing complex caseloads, and ensuring compliance with statutory obligations. You will lead client engagements, develop strong relationships, and contribute to the growth of the legal services offered. With a focus on innovation and quality, this position offers a chance to make a significant impact within the community. Enjoy a flexible working environment, excellent benefits, and the opportunity to lead a dedicated team in a rewarding legal practice.

Benefits

Local Government Pensions Scheme

Flexible working arrangements

Family Friendly policies

Employee Assistance Program

Annual leave entitlement of 26 days

Qualifications

• Provide legal advice in planning and highways matters.
• Manage a complex caseload and deliver timely advice.
• Instruct and manage external legal services.

Responsibilities

• Deliver high-quality legal advice to clients.
• Attend courts and represent clients in negotiations.
• Develop effective partnerships to meet client needs.

Skills

Legal Advice

Planning Law

Highways Law

Negotiation

Client Relationship Management

Education

Law Degree

Legal Practice Course

Job description

Principal Lawyer (Planning and Highways)

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Principal Lawyer (Planning and Highways)

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15 April 2025 | Category Latest Vacancies

Location – Shefford, Northampton or Huntingdon (although travel to other offices may be required)

Contract Type – Permanent – Full Time (37 hours)

Salary Range – £59,193.75 – £73,861.50 DOE Plus £1,435 Management Allowance

Main Accountabilities

• Provide legal advice and services to client organisations in planning, development and highways matters and other corporate or constitution and administrative matters to ensure compliance with statutory duties and obligations and to protect the best interests of the client organisations.
• Provide high quality, innovative, well researched and comprehensive specialist legal advice to clients (including elected members and senior officers), managing a complex caseload and delivering advice within the timescales required by the client.
• Act as a source of legal advice and support to any of the client Councils’ Committees and Directorates as directed.
• Attend courts and tribunals undertaking advocacy where required and to represent clients in negotiations and discussions with third parties in matters regarding the areas of legal practice relevant to the post.
• Instruct and manage suppliers of external legal services such as solicitors and barristers in accordance with the requirements of each client.
• Lead, direct, develop and improve the service to client organisations, predominately in the area of planning & highways, to ensure the provision of an excellent standard of client care and value for money.
• Act as a legal advisor to client organisations to ensure awareness of their safeguarding responsibilities and ensure compliance with statutory duties and obligations and to protect the best interest of the client organisations.
• Actively seek out new business development opportunities and to raise the profile of Pathfinder Legal Services with both our existing client base and potential new clients.
• Build highly effective working relationships with clients to ensure that Pathfinder Legal Services delivers a seamless and client focussed service to all its clients.
• Liaise with client managers to ensure that the legal service provided to them meets their needs and is focused on delivering high quality legal services, customer care and service improvements.
• Develop effective partnerships, networks and joint working arrangements to ensure the most effective provision of Legal Services to meet the needs and aspirations of clients.
• Where required, provide training to clients in specialist areas of law.
• Ensure the effective identification and management of risks associated with the relevant areas of legal practice.
• Develop and provide legal input into training courses, briefing notes and legal clinic/surgeries for a range of professional clients including to reduce the directorates need for legal services and to increase their self-sufficiency.
• Manage the activities of the team to include performance, caseloads and productivity, motivation and development, recruitment and selection and appraisals.
• Supervise other members of the team in a line management capacity. To provide overall management of the teams complex and politically sensitive case load to ensure the provision of high quality, well researched and comprehensive legal advice within the timescales required by the client.
• Provide supervision and manage the work of the team to ensure that professional guidance is given, that expertise is employed and work is allocated appropriately within the team.
• Contribute to the development, training or mentoring of colleagues where required.
• Demonstrate awareness and understanding of equal opportunities, other people’s behaviour and their physical, social and welfare needs.
• Ensure that reasonable care is taken for the health and safety of the team, including compliance with health and safety policy and procedure and to maintain good employment relations within your team.
• Provide cover and support, including in times of absence, to other Principal Lawyers based within the wider Property, Planning & Highways team.
• Deputise for the Head of Property, Planning & Highways where required.
• Support the Pathfinder Legal Services Leadership Team in building and maintaining effective working relationships with clients to ensure the delivery of a seamless and client focussed service.
• Support the Pathfinder Legal Services Leadership Team by complying with all Legal Services’ practice management requirements including time recording, billing, Lexcel and other accreditation schemes, and compliance with all policies and procedures.
• Support the Pathfinder Legal Services Leadership team and other colleagues in contributing to the overall management of the team including staff performance, financial and practice management. This includes ensuring the effective use of the ICT systems and working in accordance with the standards set out in the team’s Lexcel manual and policies and procedures.
• Support the Pathfinder Legal Services Leadership Team in developing and maintaining effective partnerships, networks and joint working arrangements to ensure the most effective provision of Legal Services to meet the needs and aspirations of clients.
• Carry out other duties which fall within the broad spirit, scope and purpose of the job description and which are commensurate with the grade of the post.
• To act as an authorised signatory for an appropriate shareholder client.
• To buddy, train and support colleagues.
  
  

For a copy of the Full Job Description, please click here.

Pathfinder Legal Benefits

• Local Government Pensions Scheme – considered to be one of the best employer contribution rates.
• Flexible working arrangements – we offer flexible hours and hybrid working which allows for remote working but we also require regular office attendance with the aim to give everyone a balanced work/life ratio.
• Family Friendly policies including excellent Maternity, Paternity and Adoption entitlements.
• An exceptional Employee Assistance Program which helps supports employees with workplace changes as well as other work, family and personal issues.
• A generous minimum annual leave entitlement of 26 days, rising on 5 and 10 years service, plus public holidays. With the option to purchase more annual leave.
  
  

To apply for this position please send your CV and a covering letter explaining how you meet the Person Specification to [e-mail].

Closing date for applications: Until Filled

Number of vacancies for the role: 1

For a copy of the full Job Description and Person Specification and details of our other vacancies, please visit our website www.pathfinderlegal.co.uk/careers.

PLEASE NOTE: we will only accept applications where a supporting covering letter showing how you meet the person specification and a CV is submitted.

Keywords: Lawyer, Planning and Highways, Law vacancy, Law jobs, Law, Law careers, Legal careers, Legal jobs, Legal vacancy

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