Specialist Planning Lawyer

Venn Group - Birmingham; England; Hybrid; GBP 72,000 - 81,000; Full time

Job summary

A public sector legal service in the UK is seeking an experienced Specialist Planning Lawyer to join at Principal level. The candidate will manage a high-profile caseload and advise on planning law and highways matters. This senior, hands-on role offers autonomy, flexibility, and a supportive working environment. Applicants should be qualified solicitors with significant local authority planning experience and leadership skills. The position allows for a hybrid working arrangement and emphasizes quality legal work over management-heavy tasks.

Benefits

Flexible working

Senior specialist role with autonomy

Permanent opportunity

Qualifications

• Extensive experience in local authority planning law.
• Strong background in highways work and committee attendance.
• Previous experience supervising or managing lawyers.

Responsibilities

• Manage a complex and often high-profile planning caseload.
• Advise on planning law, highways matters and associated agreements.
• Attend and advise Planning Committees and senior officers.
• Lead a team of around seven lawyers, supported by a paralegal.
• Improve client care through responsive, constructive advice and clearer work allocation.

Skills

Advising at committee level

Client relationship management

Planning and highways law expertise

Team leadership

Organisation and pragmatism in sensitive environments

Education

Qualified solicitor, barrister or legal executive

Job description

Specialist Planning Lawyer

£72,268-£80,062

A public sector legal service is seeking an experienced Specialist Planning Lawyer to join at Principal level, leading a small, established planning and environment team.

This is a senior, hands‑on role with a strong focus on complex planning casework, along with light‑touch management. It will suit a specialist who enjoys advising at committee level, building trusted client relationships and leading by example.

The role

• Manage a complex and often high‑profile planning caseload
• Advise on planning law, highways matters and associated agreements
• Attend and advise Planning Committees and senior officers
• Lead a team of around seven lawyers, supported by a paralegal
• Improve client care through responsive, constructive advice and clearer work allocation
• Balance casework and management, moving from an initial 60/40 split to around 80/20

About you

• Qualified solicitor, barrister or legal executive
• Extensive experience in local authority planning law
• Strong background in highways work and committee attendance
• Previous experience supervising or managing lawyers
• Pragmatic, organised and confident in politically sensitive environments

Why apply

• Senior specialist role with autonomy and influence
• High‑quality planning work rather than management‑heavy responsibilities
• Flexible, hybrid working
• Permanent opportunity within a respected public sector legal service