Senior Associate/Legal Director - Planning

DAC Beachcroft LLP; Bristol; On-site; GBP 100,000 - 125,000; Full time

Job summary

An established industry player is seeking a Senior Associate or Legal Director to join their esteemed Planning team in Bristol. This role focuses on providing expert legal advice on various planning and environmental issues, working closely with blue-chip clients across sectors. The ideal candidate will possess strong technical skills and a client-oriented approach, thriving in a collaborative environment while mentoring junior colleagues. Join a dynamic team where your contributions will significantly impact high-profile projects and client relationships, all while enjoying a supportive and professional atmosphere.

Qualifications

• Qualified Solicitor with ideally 6+ PQE in Planning & Environmental Law.
• Strong client focus and ability to work independently at a high level.

Responsibilities

• Act as primary contact for clients providing commercially focused legal advice.
• Supervise and coach junior fee earners while adhering to client protocols.

Skills

Planning & Environmental Law

Client Relationship Management

Strong Technical Skills

Business Development

Organisational Skills

Communication Skills

Mentoring and Coaching

Education

Qualified Solicitor

Job description

Senior Associate/Legal Director - Planning

Department: Real Estate - Planning

Employment Type: Permanent

Location: Bristol

Description

Our highly-regarded, national Planning team are recruiting for a Senior Associate or Legal Director to join our Planning team.

As part of the much wider Real Estate Group team, the highly regarded group acts for an impressive array of blue chip clients spanning the public and private sectors - along with an excellent reputation for housebuilder work.

The team advises on all aspects of planning and environmental issues including:-

• Residential, commercial, healthcare, educational and mixed use developments
• Section 106 agreements
• Infrastructure and highway agreements
• Rights of way
• Due diligence in support of property and commercial transactions
• CIL
• Appeals and judicial review
• Enforcement
• CPOs
• Contaminated land liabilities
• Waste management regulation and environmental permitting
• Statutory nuisance
• Floodplain issues
• Environmental impact assessments/Habitats Regulations
• Biodiversity Net Gain
• Net-Zero

Key Responsibilities

The role will include:

• Acting as first and primary contact for clients on a day to day basis providing them with commercially focused legal advice.
• Adhering closely to client protocol and process.
• Be able to work independently and at a high level
• Provide support to senior fee earners where appropriate.
• Provide supervision and coaching to junior fee earners.
• Make an appropriate contribution to non fee-earning activity e.g. marketing and business development, client relationship management, knowledge sharing, training, client seminars.
• Comply with the required standards for internal procedures e.g. financial management of files, billing regimes etc as well as the specific requirements of individual clients.
• Writing articles for publication both for in-house and external publications.
• Handle confidential information in line with the firm's data security protocols.

Skills, Knowledge and Expertise

• A Qualified Solicitor, ideally 6+PQE.
• Experience of Planning & Environmental Law, including Residential Development.
• Ability to deliver against client protocols and KPIs.
• Strong technical skills and an ability to understand and work through complex issues.
• A highly client focused and demonstrable ability to adopt a practical and commercial perspective rather than an ‘academic’ approach to legal issues.
• Ability to operate with a high level of self- sufficiency, combined with an awareness of the boundaries of own competence/authority.
• Team oriented and collegiate with experience of and a willingness to mentor, coach and supervise less experienced members of the team.
• Exposure to (and success within) business development activities.
• Confident communicator with an ability to develop relationships, undertake client marketing and influence at all levels. Ability to deal confidently and professionally with clients on day to day issues, building up strong relationships.
• Strong organisational skills to ensure a pragmatic and methodical approach to handling a variety of Planning and Environmental matters simultaneously.
• A positive, flexible approach towards the implementation of new initiatives.
• Able to handle a complex and constantly changing workload and to work well under pressure.
• Detail conscious with a concern for quality.