Principal Lawyer - Planning and Highways

Kirklees Council; East London; Hybrid; ZAR 400 000 - 500 000; Full time

Job summary

A local authority seeks a qualified Solicitor or Barrister to join their Planning and Highways team in East London, South Africa. This lead lawyer role involves providing legal advice on a range of planning and highways matters, including s106 agreements and public law. The successful candidate will have substantial experience in planning law and will benefit from a supportive environment for professional development and excellent employee benefits including hybrid working options.

Benefits

27.5 days annual leave

Cycle to work scheme

Travel and parking discounts

Exceptional Maternity and Paternity leave

Local Government Pension

Employee Healthcare services

Qualifications

• Must hold a current practising certificate.
• Substantial experience at a senior level in planning law.
• Experience or aptitude to develop in highways law and local government law.

Responsibilities

• Provide advice to officers and elected members.
• Handle s106 and 278 agreements.
• Deal with complex planning and highways matters.

Skills

Planning law expertise

Highways law aptitude

Public law experience

Leadership skills

Education

Qualified Solicitor or Barrister

Fellow of the Institute of Legal Executives

Job description

The team

The Planning and Highways team handle a wide range of planning, highways, rights of way and environmental matters supporting our ambition for a green, sustainable and prosperous Kirklees.

The role

You will be one of the lead lawyers in the team providing advice to officers and elected members. Examples of matters you will deal with include s106 and 278 agreements, complex and routine planning and highways advice, public enquiries, advice on planning enforcement and public law.

Development

If you are ambitious to develop your knowledge in this specialist area and be supported to develop your management and leadership skills this is the job for you.

What you will bring

You will be a qualified Solicitor holding a current practising certificate, Barrister or a Fellow of the Institute of Legal Executives. You will have substantial recent experience at a senior level of planning law and practice and experience or the aptitude to develop in highways law, public rights of way and local government law.

Your benefits

Kirklees Council offers these benefits to all its employees:

• 27.5 days annual leave increasing to 32.5 after 5 years’ service (plus bank holidays).
• Cycle to work scheme.
• Travel and parking discounts
• Exceptional Maternity and Paternity leave policies
• Local Government Pension
• Access to Employee Healthcare that offers a range of services from counselling to physiotherapy and health assessments.
• Hybrid working

Learn more about Kirklees Council Staff Benefits.

Got questions?

If you would like to have an informal discussion about this role, please telephone John Chapman Head of Legal Services 01484 221 000.