Specialist Planning Lawyer

Venn Group; Stevenage; On-site; GBP 72,000 - 81,000; Full time

Job summary

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 senior, hands-on role focuses on complex casework and requires a qualified lawyer with extensive local authority planning law experience. The ideal candidate should be confident in politically sensitive environments, enjoy advising at committee level, and have prior management experience. Competitive salary range is £72,268 - £80,062.

Qualifications

• Qualified solicitor, barrister or legal executive.
• Extensive experience in local authority planning law.
• Previous experience supervising or managing lawyers.

Responsibilities

• Manage a complex and high-profile planning caseload.
• Advise on planning law and highways matters.
• Lead a team of lawyers and improve client care.

Skills

Local authority planning law

Highways work

Team leadership

Client relations

Politically sensitive environments

Education

Qualified solicitor, barrister or legal executive

Job description

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, alongside 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