Senior Lawyer (Planning)

Swale Borough Council; England; Hybrid; GBP 48,000 - 55,000; Full time

Job summary

A local government legal service is seeking a Senior Lawyer (Planning) to manage complex planning matters and provide high-quality legal advice. The role offers a salary range of £48,657 to £54,727 plus benefits, including a generous pension scheme, wellbeing support, and flexible working arrangements. Ideal candidates are qualified lawyers with experience in planning law and supervisory roles. This full-time position allows significant remote working and comes with excellent professional growth opportunities.

Benefits

Local Government pension scheme

Generous annual leave

Wellbeing support

Discounts on leisure and travel

Free parking

Season ticket loans

Qualifications

• Qualified lawyer with post-qualification legal practice experience in planning and development.
• Experience with case management and legal research.
• Experience in advising committees and political sensitivity.

Responsibilities

• Provide high-level legal advice on planning matters.
• Draft and review critical documents for planning processes.
• Supervise junior staff in the Planning team.

Skills

Planning law

Legal research

Document drafting

Supervisory experience

Knowledge of local government procedures

Education

Qualified lawyer (solicitor, barrister, or equivalent)

Job description

Senior Lawyer (Planning) – Mid Kent Legal Services, This is a full-time, hybrid role.

About Us

Mid Kent Legal Services (MKLS) provides legal services and advice across the Mid-Kent area (to Swale, Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells councils). The service covers a range of areas including Property and Regeneration, Planning, Contentious, Contracts & Commissioning and Corporate Governance. Working across multiple councils means a range of high-level, challenging and impactful work ranging from supporting the delivery of garden communities, to the redevelopment of large shopping centres, to letting very large contracts, to delivering affordable housing. In short, it’s a real opportunity to make a difference in an area with vibrant towns, beautiful villages and countryside and fantastic leisure and cultural amenities.

MKLS has a reputation as being forward thinking, progressive and innovative and is closely and strongly aligned with its partner authorities. It provides a supportive and nurturing environment, providing opportunities for staff to progress internally and uses technology to maximise the effective use of lawyers' time. In short, it is a great place to work.

We are now looking for a Senior Lawyer (Planning) to join us on a full-time, permanent basis, working 34 hours per week.

The Benefits

• Salary of £48,657 - £54,727 per annum + £7,000 market supplement
• Local Government pension scheme
• Generous annual leave plus time off between Christmas and New Year (and an option to purchase extra leave)
• Wellbeing support including confidential advice, counselling and flu vaccines
• Discounts on leisure, retail and fuel and salary sacrifice schemes, including Cycle to Work and car leasing
• Generous sick pay
• Free parking across all 3 Parter Authority sites
• Season ticket loans for rail/bus travel

This is the ideal opportunity for an experienced planning lawyer with a track record of dealing with complex and often high-profile planning agreements, providing high-level legal advice and dealing with the complex issues arising from present-day developments, to join our forward-thinking shared service.

With exceptional benefits, including a brilliant pension scheme and opportunities for professional growth, you’ll have the chance to make a positive impact whilst developing a better work/life balance and furthering your career.

What’s more, we offer outstanding working arrangements, with the majority of your time spent working from home and a 34-hour working week, including 1pm finishes on Fridays. On top of this, we offer a number of working options such as compressed hours, nine-day fortnights and part-time working, all within an inclusive and supportive working environment where your wellbeing is prioritised.

The Role

As a Senior Lawyer (Planning), you will provide high-quality professional legal services and manage a caseload of complex planning matters.

Ensuring we operate at the forefront of legal excellence and align with Lexcel standards, you will provide high-level legal advice and service to elected Members, committees, senior managers and staff across all three local authorities.

Confirming that planning decisions and processes comply with legal standards, you will provide expert legal advice on planning matters, draft and review critical documents and provide support at planning appeals and inquiries.

You will also stay informed of legal developments in planning law and contribute to policy development, ensuring that local policies remain compliant and strategically sound.

Additionally, you will:

• Stay updated on changes and developments in planning law
• Collaborate with internal and external stakeholders to ensure effective planning processes
• Supervise junior fee earners and administrative staff in the Planning team
• Deliver training and member briefings to enhance understanding of planning law and procedures

This is an exciting time to join the MKLS Planning Team with a number of large and high-profile projects happening across the Partner Authorities.

About You

To be considered as our Senior Lawyer (Planning), you will need:

• To be a qualified lawyer, solicitor, barrister, legal executive or have equivalent qualification and experience
• Post-qualification legal practice experience in planning and development
• Experience with case management and legal research
• Supervisory experience in connection with planning casework
• Experience with legal document drafting
• Experience of planning appeals and court proceedings
• Familiarity with statutory instruments, regulations, and guidance relating to local government planning and development law
• Experience in advising committees
• Experience operating in politically sensitive environments
• Knowledge and understanding of the political nature of local government and the democratic process
• A full, valid UK driving licence

Other organisations may call this role Senior Legal Counsel, Lead Lawyer, Legal Services Manager, Solicitor, Barrister, Chartered Legal Executive, or Senior Legal Manager.

If you would like to discuss this position, please contact Timothy Pyant, Interim Business Manager on 01622 602155.

Closing Date: 19th October 2025
Interview Date: W/C 3rd November 2025

Webrecruit, Mid Kent Legal Services and Maidstone, Swale and Tunbridge Wells local authorities are equal opportunities employers, value diversity and are strongly committed to providing equal employment opportunities for all employees and all applicants for employment. Equal opportunities are the only acceptable way to conduct business and we believe that the more inclusive our environments are, the better our work will be.

So, if you’re looking for a great new opportunity as a Senior Lawyer (Planning), please apply via the button shown.