Principal Planning Lawyer

Venn Group - Birmingham; United Kingdom; Hybrid; GBP 51,000 - 57,000; Full time

Job summary

A large local authority legal service in the UK is seeking a Principal Lawyer specializing in Planning and Highways. This senior in-house role offers a competitive salary and allows for hybrid working arrangements. The position involves joining a dedicated legal team to provide high-quality advice on a range of planning and highways matters, mentor junior lawyers, and develop personal leadership skills. Ideal candidates are experienced planning lawyers with a passion for improving infrastructure and community development.

Benefits

Local Government Pension Scheme

27.5 days annual leave, rising to 32.5 days after five years

Generous family-friendly policies

Health and wellbeing support services

Travel, parking and cycle benefits

Qualifications

• Experienced planning lawyer at a senior level, with a strong focus on complex matters.
• Confident in advising committees and members on planning issues.
• Interest in broadening experience in highways and local government law.

Responsibilities

• Provide advice on planning and highways work, including Section 106 agreements.
• Support junior lawyers and develop management skills.
• Handle planning enforcement and public law matters.

Skills

Advising on complex planning matters

Mentoring and supporting others

Public law matters

Risk governance

Education

Qualified solicitor, barrister or CILEX lawyer

Job description

Principal Lawyer – Planning and Highways

£51,356 – £56,494 + £3,000 market supplement | Hybrid working

This is a senior in-house role within a large local authority legal service, offering the chance to work on a wide range of planning and highways matters that directly shape places, infrastructure and communities.

The role sits within a specialist planning and highways team and combines high-quality technical work with opportunities to develop leadership skills.

The team

You’ll join a dedicated Planning and Highways legal team advising on planning, highways, rights of way and related environmental matters. The team supports ambitious regeneration, infrastructure and sustainability objectives and works closely with planning officers, highways colleagues and elected members.

It’s a supportive and collaborative team environment, with a strong emphasis on practical, solutions-focused advice.

The role

You’ll be one of the lead lawyers in the team, providing advice on a broad mix of planning and highways work. Alongside your caseload, you’ll have scope to support junior lawyers and develop your management and leadership capability over time. The caseload will include:

• Section 106 and Section 278 agreements
• Complex and routine planning and highways advice
• Planning enforcement and public law matters
• Public inquiries and hearings
• Advising officers and elected members on risk, governance and decision-making

Who this role suits

• A qualified solicitor, barrister or CILEX lawyer
• An experienced planning lawyer, operating at a senior level
• Confident advising on complex planning matters and working with committees and members
• Interested in broadening your experience into highways, public rights of way and wider local government law (or already experienced in these areas)
• Someone who enjoys mentoring and supporting others, even if you’ve not formally managed before

Working arrangements and benefits

• Hybrid working
• Local Government Pension Scheme
• 27.5 days annual leave, rising to 32.5 days after five years, plus bank holidays
• Generous family-friendly policies
• Health and wellbeing support services
• Travel, parking and cycle benefits

For more information

• Contact Nik Stoate at Venn Group [e-mail]