Principal Lawyer - Planning, Property & Contracts

Sellick Partnership; Barry; Hybrid; GBP 51,000 - 55,000; Full time

Job summary

A local government organization in Barry is seeking a Principal Lawyer to lead a team and manage complex legal matters in Planning, Property, and Contracts. This role involves providing confident legal advice, supporting governance, and influencing significant community decisions. Ideal candidates will be solicitors with substantial experience in relevant areas and strong leadership skills. A collaborative culture offers a pathway into senior leadership and investment in personal growth.

Benefits

Flexible working arrangements

Professional development programs

Collaborative work environment

Qualifications

• Significant experience in Property, Contract or Planning law.
• Experience in leading project work such as regeneration schemes.
• A collaborative and values-led approach.

Responsibilities

• Lead, mentor and support a team of Lawyers.
• Manage a complex caseload with various legal matters.
• Provide timely legal advice to officers and Members.

Skills

Leadership

Analytical skills

Negotiation

Communication

Problem solving

Education

Professional qualification as a Solicitor, Barrister or Fellow of CILEX

Job description

Job Title

Principal Lawyer – Planning, Property & Contract

Pay Details

£51,356 – £54,495 (Pro Rata)

Hours of Work / Working Pattern

37 Hours per week

Main Place of Work

Civic Offices, Barry and Hybrid Working (to agree days on site)

About the role

The Vale of Glamorgan is a place with a strong sense of identity, ambition and purpose. Our Vale 2030 plan is more than a strategy – it’s a commitment to creating thriving communities, protecting our environment, strengthening our local economy and ensuring that everyone has the opportunity to flourish.

As a coastal county with vibrant towns, growing regeneration zones and significant strategic development underway, the Vale offers some of the most interesting and influential legal work in Wales. From transforming town centres to enabling housing and infrastructure, the decisions we make today will shape the Vale for generations.

Legal Services is deeply embedded in this journey. We are trusted partners to services across the Council, helping to unlock complex development opportunities, safeguard robust governance, and support democratic decision‑making. Our work spans regeneration, sustainable transport, planning, climate resilience, commercial activity and strategic land use – offering a breadth of experience rarely matched in private practice.

As Principal Lawyer you will :

• Lead, mentor and support a team of Lawyers and Legal Officers.
• Manage a complex caseload including property, planning, contract, procurement, conveyancing and regeneration matters.
• Provide confident, timely legal advice to officers and Members, including Planning Committee.
• Guide the Council through judicial reviews, planning appeals, inquiries and statutory processes.
• Support delivery of the Reshaping Programme and major capital schemes.

Promote strong governance, excellent client care and modern legal practice.

What we offer :

You’ll join a supportive, friendly and collaborative team where people share knowledge openly and celebrate collective success. We offer a working culture that respects work‑life balance, underpinned by flexible and family‑friendly policies so you can thrive professionally and personally.

This role provides a genuine pathway into senior leadership, with access to Vale of Glamorgan management development programmes, mentoring and broader corporate exposure as part of our People Strategy.

About you :

This role is perfect for someone who enjoys variety, problem solving and being close to the decisions that shape our communities. If you want your legal expertise to genuinely influence outcomes and not just process transactions, this could be your next step.

You’ll bring :

• Professional qualification as a Solicitor, Barrister or Fellow of CILEX.
• Significant experience in at least one of : Property, Contract or Planning law.
• Experience contributing to or leading project work (regeneration schemes, commercial acquisitions / disposals, strategic land use).
• Leadership, people management or supervisory experience, or a commitment to developing these skills.
• A basic understanding of administrative and corporate law relevant to local government, or the ability to develop this quickly.
• Strong drafting, analytical and negotiation skills.
• Ability to handle complex matters and competing priorities.
• Excellent communication skills, including translating complex legal concepts for non‑lawyers.
• A collaborative, inclusive and values‑led approach.

You don't need experience in every area – depth in one specialism and a willingness to learn the others is more important to us.

We're looking for a can‑do, solutions‑focused mindset: someone who is flexible, enthusiastic and committed to supporting the work of the wider Legal Services team as well as their own portfolio.

If you are unsure whether you meet every requirement, we encourage you to apply. We value potential, learning mindset and alignment with our values just as much as technical expertise.

How to apply :

You can apply for this post through the Council webpage 'Job Vacancies'.

Please note that information can be provided in Welsh. Please contact Natalie Delaney at Sellick Partnership for more information.

Sellick Partnership is proud to be an inclusive and accessible recruitment business and we support applications from candidates of all backgrounds and circumstances. Please note, our advertisements use years’ experience, hourly rates, and salary levels purely as a guide and we assess applications based on the experience and skills evidenced on the CV. For information on how your personal details may be used by Sellick Partnership, please review our data processing notice on our website.