Property Lawyers - Major Projects, Property Transactions and Dispute Resolution

Buckinghamshire Council; Aylesbury; Hybrid; GBP 35,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

Buckinghamshire Council is seeking experienced legal professionals for roles focused on major projects, property transactions, and dispute resolution. These positions offer a range of responsibilities in a dynamic environment, contributing to the Council's commitment to local development and improvement. Interested candidates must have pertinent experience in property law and be prepared to support high-profile community projects.

Benefits

Career development initiatives

Employee Assistance Programme

Flexible working arrangements

Qualifications

• Experience in property law is essential.
• Experience in planning, highways, and contract law would be advantageous.
• Experience in civil litigation is highly desirable.

Responsibilities

• Undertake complex caseloads supporting major projects.
• Draft legal documents and provide legal advice.
• Protect the Council's property interests and resolve disputes.

Skills

Property law

Planning law

Dispute resolution

Civil litigation

Education

Qualified Solicitor or Barrister

Job description

Property Lawyers - Major Projects, Property Transactions and Dispute Resolution

Location: Aylesbury

An excellent level of legal knowledge and experience, a willingness to learn and a good understanding of the work of local government are essential. Career development is something we are passionate about; we offer a number of supported training initiatives, utilising our colleagues’ knowledge and experience to provide training and guidance.

The salaries advertised for these roles are dependent on experience. We have full-time posts available, however, we would consider applications for part-time working. Please note if you are working part-time the salary would be pro-rata.

About us

Legal Services is at the heart of the Organisation and provides a fast-paced and rewarding career in a supportive environment. The in-house legal service supports the Council’s ambitions to establish one of the best councils in the Country, creating positive change for local people, communities, and business.

The Major Projects team is a newly created team within Legal Services that supports the Council’s development projects such as Aylesbury Woodlands, South East Aylesbury Link Road and Wycombe Air Park. We work on the creation of new highways and infrastructure including improving the connectivity around Buckinghamshire for its residents, businesses, and communities. We also work on delivery of new homes, employment land, data centres and leisure facilities. The team supports the Council’s aims to bring in capital receipts by providing high quality advice on disposal or redevelopment of the Council’s surplus assets.

The Property team within Legal Services supports the Council’s activities connected with its commercial and operational property portfolio including the Council’s companies and trusts. The Council’s portfolio consists of a variety of commercial property, schools, open spaces, car parks, retail, offices, common land, and highways. We ensure that the Council acts within a complex legal framework and assist the client areas in obtaining the most commercially advantageous terms.

By working with us, you are part of something bigger. From supporting residents who are at the heart of what we do, to shaping our county for now and future generations – as a Buckinghamshire Council employee, you contribute to the local community, whatever your role. As one of the biggest local authorities in the UK, we are part of a network of partners spanning both public and private sectors. Our services are wide-ranging, and the opportunities to grow and progress are endless.

We are seeking legal professionals who enjoy working collaboratively to offer proactive, innovative, and customer-focussed advice, and to support the delivery of multi-disciplined, high-profile projects. You will contribute as an active team member and support and engage in the development of junior members of the team.You will also contribute to the Legal Service’s objectives ensuring the provision of an effective, consistent, and high-quality service that is responsive to customer demands.

Three posts are being advertised namely Major Projects Lawyer, Property Lawyer and Property Dispute Resolution Lawyer. Please state on your application which post(s) you wish to be considered for:

Major Projects Lawyer - Salary grade 8-10 (dependent on experience)

You will undertake a complex and varied caseload to support a team of lawyers working across the Council’s major projects delivering high value and bespoke advice, drafting and negotiation of legal documents including attending project meetings with clients, developers and external stakeholders and contributing as an active team member with supervision. This will include working on compulsory purchase orders and land compensation claims. Experience in property law is essential to this role. Experience in planning, highways and contract law would be an advantage.

Property Lawyer – Salary grade 8- 10 (dependent on experience)

You will undertake a varied routine and complex caseload and will support the Property Team in their specialist departmental work including drafting legal documents including applications, notices, agreements and statements with supervision. You will also produce documents and undertake disclosure work in relation to standard pre-contract enquiries, Land Registry requisitions, subject access requests/freedom of information requests/court directed disclosure/as required by legislation under the supervision. Experience in property law is essential to this role. Experience in other areas of law would be an advantage.

Property Dispute Resolution Lawyer - Salary grade 8-10 (dependent on experience)

You will undertake a varied routine and complex caseload to protect the Council’s property interests by dealing with any pre action correspondence and claims robustly acting for or defending the Council with a view to resolving any disputes. This will include drafting pleadings and notices, instructing Counsel to attend court hearings, Lands tribunals and inquiries, judicial reviews and advising on land disputes arising out of compulsory purchase orders and land compensation with supervision. Experience in property law and dispute resolution is essential to this role. Experience in civil litigation is highly desirable.

For further information on these roles please see the attached job summary.

Working Style:

Legal Services works in a hybrid manner with a mixture of office based and home working. As an ‘any-desk’ worker, you will be required to work from the Council’s Walton Street office 40-60% of the week or in line with business need and team requirements. You will have full remote access to enable you to work from home the remainder of the time. You may also be required to attend meetings across the county and at times further afield.

During any probationary/learning period you may be required to attend the office more frequently for training. Attendance is required on collaboration team working days at the Walton Street Offices.

About you

We welcome applications from Solicitors, Barristers and Legal Executives with relevant experience in either the public or private sector. You’ll be highly self-motivated and proactive, with an ability to work under pressure in a fast-paced environment. It is important to work collaboratively to offer proactive, innovative and customer-focussed advice and to support the delivery of high-profile cases and projects.

Other information

Selection will be based on an interview to take place at the Council’s offices in Walton Street, Aylesbury.

If you would like to have an informal conversation with the recruiting manager, please contact: Preetinder Cheema on 01895 837231.

This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and therefore applicants are required to declare:

• All unspent convictions and conditional cautions
• All spent convictions and adult cautions that are not protected (i.e. that are not filtered out) as defined by the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (as amended in 2020 and 2023).

We reserve the right to close the vacancy once we have received sufficient applications, so please be advised to submit your application as early as possible.

Our values and culture

We have a set of values, which our employees have chosen, that represent what we are – Proud, Ambitious, Collaborative and Trustworthy.

By joining Buckinghamshire Council, you can expect:

a fair and inclusive culture

• the chance to really make a difference to those around you
• health and well-being initiatives including an Employee Assistance Programme, Mental Health First Aiders and mindfulness workshops
• a unified voice through our Employee Representative Group
• ongoing support, and the opportunity to develop and progress in your career with us
• opportunities to take part in fun activities such as fundraising and social events

At Buckinghamshire Council, we know that our biggest strength comes from the people that work for us, and that’s why we’re working hard to ensure we continue to be an accessible and inclusive organisation.

From dedicated staff networks overseen by our Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Steering Group, to proudly standing as a Disability Confident employer, it’s important to us that all our colleagues feel engaged, listened to, and valued. Our offer of flexible working empowers a productive and happy workforce and allows employees to combine work with other responsibilities and commitments.

We believe our workforce should reflect the diverse communities we service in Buckinghamshire, and are looking for like-minded individuals to join us in promoting equality, fairness, and inclusion for everyone.

About the Business Unit

The Assistant Chief Executive directorate is central to Buckinghamshire Council’s journey to establish itself as one of the best councils in the country. With a clear focus on service improvement through transformation and a drive to build better relationships with the local community, the directorate is fast-paced; but extremely rewarding. Our teams are not only proactively delivering on projects and plans but also reacting to developing situations. If you are ambitious, innovative, and would relish the opportunity to influence change - a role within our service area could be your next career move.

The team includes exciting areas of work, including a brand new localities model – delivering 16 community boards across the county to make it easy for our residents to engage with us as we work together to plan for the future. Other teams include our Policy and Communications and Legal and Democratic Services teams – innovating the way we communicate with our colleagues, Members and the local community, and role-modelling best practice through policy, planning and legal services. If you think you can help us achieve our goals, and want to be a part of this exciting journey, we would love to hear from you!

We recognise and reward you

Hard work and success deserves recognition. That’s why we pride ourselves on the benefits we give our people. We actively encourage a good work-life balance and promote flexible and agile working arrangements. We provide discounts on various Cafés, restaurants, shops and auto enrolment onto our generous Pension Scheme. In addition to the opportunity to gain membership to Costco, we have discounted gym memberships, travel discounts with Arriva and much more.