Solicitor – Highways & Environment

Essex County Council; Chelmsford; Hybrid; GBP 51,000 - 60,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid working

LGPS

Job summary

Essex County Council’s Legal Team seeks a Solicitor, Barrister or Legal Executive to join the Highways and Environment group in a hybrid role based in Chelmsford. You will provide high-quality legal advice, draft and negotiate complex agreements, and support decision-making for public infrastructure projects.

The role offers the chance to work closely with senior leaders, deliver impactful services to residents, and benefit from a supportive, in-house environment with flexible hybrid

Qualifications

• Qualified solicitor, barrister or legal executive with full practising certificate.
• Strong drafting and negotiating skills.
• Experience in public sector advice and planning issues, including s106 agreements and related statutory documents.

Responsibilities

• Acts as a role model for client service across Essex Legal Services and supports training.
• Uses strong communication and influencing skills to resolve complex issues.
• Anticipates change and adapts priorities to meet business needs.
• Proactively undertakes challenging work and ensures timely decision making.
• Builds credibility through informed, timely decisions with sound judgement.
• Manages multiple priorities and allocates resources effectively.

Skills

Communication

Drafting

Negotiation

Case management

Stakeholder management

Education

Qualified solicitor/barrister/legal executive with practising certificate

Job description

Solicitor - Highways & Environment

Permanent, Full Time

£50,609 to £59,540 per annum + benefits

Location: Chelmsford*

Closing Date: 29th October 2026

*This is a hybrid-working role contractually based in Chelmsford. You will work from the Chelmsford office 1-2 days per week, and as required due to business need. Whilst travel is not usually expected there may occasionally be a need to be off site.

Join Essex County Council’s Legal Team – Make a Real Impact in Public Law

Are you a qualified Solicitor or Legal Executive with a passion for our highways and environment? If so, we encourage you to join our Highways and Environment legal team at one of the largest and most dynamic local authorities in the UK.

As part of a specialist team reporting to the Legal Services Manager (Highways and Environment), you will work closely with colleagues to deliver a high-performing client-facing legal service. Essex Legal Services (ELS) provides a comprehensive legal service to the Council, with the majority of work delivered in-house. We work on a number of interesting and complex infrastructure and development projects taking place in the County of Essex.

We value our people and foster a supportive environment where colleagues are encouraged to perform at their best. While the work can be demanding and requires resilience, we are committed to making ELS a place where people feel supported and want to stay.

We are looking for a Qualified Solicitor, Barrister or Legal Executive who is excited to join our team, get involved with our projects and who can build strong and effective relationships with clients. The role involves delivering high-quality advice, information, analysis and interpretation to support decision-making and compliance with statutory requirements.

This is a varied and engaging role, offering the opportunity to work closely with senior leaders and make a meaningful impact on services for residents. If you are looking to join a friendly, welcoming and high-achieving team, this could be the opportunity for you.

Why Essex County Council?

• Diverse and Impactful Work: We serve 1.5 million people, a £1.7 billion estate and tackle a wide range of interesting and complex legal challenges and projects.
• Supportive Team Environment: Join a brilliant team of lawyers who are dedicated to making a difference. New joiners rave about the interesting work and the support they receive.
• In-House Expertise: Most of our work is done in-house, providing you with a rich and varied experience.

What We’re Looking For

• Qualified solicitor or barrister or legal executive with full valid practising certificate
• Ability to establish credibility with Directors, senior management and other key stakeholders including LPA representatives.
• Ability to communicate effectively as well as good drafting and negotiating skill.
• Demonstrably good case management skills.
• Ability to contribute effectively in a large complex organisation.
• knowledge and understanding of providing legal advice in a public sector setting; including but not limited to advising on a full range of planning issues at district and county level, preparing documents including a substantial number of section 106 agreements and undertakings (drafting and negotiating bi or tri party, with local LPAs, can include s278 and other statutory agreements for development sites), dealing with public inquiries, advising at committee for the County Council's statutory roles such as education authority, highway authority and mineral and waste planning authority.

Key Responsibilities

• Acts as a role model for client service across Essex Legal Services, supporting business-wide training and discussion groups, and achieving outcomes that benefit both clients and the service.
• Uses strong communication and influencing skills to resolve complex issues, balancing competing interests and ensuring fair, well considered decisions.
• Anticipates change, adapts priorities, and supports others in responding effectively to new demands.
• Proactively undertakes challenging work
• Builds credibility through informed, timely decision making, demonstrating sound judgement in complex or ambiguous situations.
• Manages multiple priorities, allocates resources effectively, and develops contingency plans to address changing circumstances.
• Balances organisational and individual needs, encourages ideas and collaboration, and supports learning and service improvement.
• Understands external social and political influences impact Essex Legal Services’ resourcing and on the organisation, aligns team performance with organisational goals, and promotes awareness of strategic issues.

Why You'll Love Working with Us:

• Flexible Work Arrangements: Experience the best of both worlds with our flexible hybrid working arrangements. Enjoy the freedom to work from home while still benefiting from in-person collaboration in our Chelmsford offices.
• Generous Time Off: Start with 27 days of holiday, increasing with service, plus 8 bank holidays and up to 4 paid volunteer days each year.
• Secure Your Future: Enjoy peace of mind with enrolment in the Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS).
• Professional Growth: We cover professional fees for approved professions, supporting your career development.
• Once you’ve secured your role within Essex County Council you will receive many great employee benefits, including support for unpaid carers and flexible working arrangements to accommodate their needs.

Visa sponsorship is not available for this role, so applicants must have current, unrestricted right to work in the UK.

As one of the largest and most dynamic UK local authorities, Essex offers a stimulating public service environment. Covering over 1,420 square miles and serving 1.8 million residents, we’re committed to transformational change and delivering better quality at lower cost. Recognised in the top three of the latest IMPOWER index for productivity, we ensure everyone matters in . With flexible working options and a focus on innovation, whether you are looking to develop your career or contribute to the local community, Essex is the ideal place for you.

Greater Essex has been accepted on to the devolution priority programme, where we will work towards establishing a Mayoral Combined County Authority. You can read more about these changes, and what this may mean for this role, on our

, including throughout the recruitment process. Your commitment to these standards helps us maintain a positive and respectful workplace for everyone.

Essex County Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults, and expects all employees and volunteers to share this commitment.

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