Solicitor - Planning and Highways

South Gloucestershire Council; Yate; On-site; GBP 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Generous annual leave (pro rata)

Employee wellbeing support

Staff discounts (eye tests, travel,购物,

Job summary

South Gloucestershire Council is seeking a qualified Solicitor or Barrister with substantial post-qualification experience in planning and highways law. You will provide pragmatic legal support, advise committees and officers, and represent the council at tribunals and courts on complex matters.

The role requires delivering clear advice, managing a varied caseload, and collaborating with counsel and planning teams to advance planning-related policy and projects.

Qualifications

• Qualified as Solicitor or Barrister with substantial post-qualification experience in planning and highways law.
• Significant expertise in planning and highways, plus sound knowledge of local government law and practice.
• Proven ability to manage a varied caseload effectively with clear, robust advice.

Responsibilities

• Advise on planning applications, enforcement and highway matters, and represent the council at tribunals and courts.
• Draft and negotiate agreements, advise committees and panels, and provide timely policy and legal support.
• Prepare for complex inquiries with counsel, assist with evidence, statements and case preparation.
• Advise on compulsory purchase orders, town and village green applications, and rights of way matters.

Skills

Planning and highways law

Local government law

Caseload management

Communication skills

Job description

How You'll Make a Difference

As a qualified and experienced Solicitor or Barrister specialising in planning and highways law, you will provide proactive, pragmatic and solutions-based legal advice and support. You will also represent the council effectively at tribunals, public inquiries, courts and other relevant forums.

What You Will Be Doing

• You will undertake a broad and varied caseload covering all aspects of planning and highways law. This will include advising on planning applications, planning enforcement and highway matters, alongside attending inquiries and committees.
• It will be your responsibility to advise, negotiate and draft a variety of agreements, as well as advising the council at committee meetings and panels.
• Acting as a legal adviser to the council, you will provide clear and timely advice to planning committees, panels and officers. This will include advising on complex planning and enforcement issues and supporting councillors and officers in the development and review of planning-related policy documents.
• Working closely with counsel and planning officers, you will support them with preparing for complex public inquiries, including advising on the adequacy of evidence and statements, collating documentation and assisting with case preparation. Where required, you will attend court in relation to planning enforcement proceedings.
• You will advise on and prepare compulsory purchase orders, determine town and village green applications and provide legal support across a range of highways-related matters, including public rights of way.

What We Need From You

• We require you to be a qualified Solicitor or Barrister with substantial post-qualification experience in providing legal advice. You will have significant expertise in planning and highways law, together with a sound working knowledge of local government law and practice and a proven ability to manage your own caseload effectively.
• Providing excellent interpersonal, verbal and written communication skills, you will be able to engage confidently and professionally with managers and staff across the council, elected members and a wide range of external partners and agencies.
• It is essential that you can demonstrate strong analytical skills, enabling you to assess complex and high-risk matters and provide clear, robust advice. You will also have the emotional resilience required to manage sensitive and contentious issues.

Interviews are to be held on the 30th September 2026

How a Career At South Gloucestershire Council Is Different

• As part of our benefits package, you will receive generous annual leave (pro rata), employee wellbeing support and you will have access to a range of staff discounts, including eye tests, travel, shopping and leisure activities.
• We recognise that our diverse team of skilled and dedicated people make us a great place to work. We welcome applications from everyone and ensure that individuals are selected, promoted and developed on the basis of their merits and abilities.

Our teams at South Gloucestershire Council are making a real difference to the lives of people who live, work and learn here. We're building and shaping communities which people are proud of.

• We're planning for the future; building and improving the roads, railways, schools, green spaces, and houses.
• We're providing essential services across our communities to ensure they are safe and well maintained.

We've achieved a great deal, but we need talented and dedicated people to ensure we continue to make a difference.

We're making a difference, be part of it!