Senior Lawyer - Planning

The starting salary for this role is £53,918 per annum based on a 36 hour working week.

The administrative base for the Council’s Legal Services is Woodhatch Place in Reigate. While the team generally works from home, we aim to meet in person at one of our offices in Surrey and work together there on at least one day a month. Visits to our offices may also be required occasionally for in-person meetings and any coordination regarding work with our helpful and professional legal support team. When the team works from home we are available to our clients and have frequent contact with one another and daily slots in the diary for team catch-ups when desired

Are you looking for a new opportunity to develop a career in Planning law, specialising in planning enforcement?

Are you looking to work in an agile organisation that focusses on outcomes rather than the location from which you work? 

At Surrey County Council, within our Highways and Planning legal team, an opportunity has arisen for a qualified senior solicitor or lawyer. Our work is very varied and we work for informed and appreciative client teams. The work is fast-paced and key to the delivery of the Council's strategic goals.

The successful candidate will conduct of a number of planning enforcement matters and also be required to advise on general planning issues and have conduct of any related litigation. You will deputise for the Principal Lawyer as required. 

You will clearly demonstrate that you have good experience in the relevant areas of law as well as the following skills and abilities: 

• Negotiating planning agreements.
• Providing solutions-focused and enabling advice, and an ability to learn quickly about new areas of work.
• Drafting possibly complex briefs to Counsel.
• Drafting of enforcement notices and instructions to Counsel.
• Having care of any subsequent appeal proceedings.
• Effective team working.
• Supervision of paralegal and solicitor roles.
• Managing competing priorities to achieve client deadlines.
• Exemplary client care.

Local Authority planning enforcement work can be challenging, but we will provide training to cover new areas of practice to support you to be successful in role.

At Surrey, our values and behaviours are just as important as our skills and abilities. They shape who we are as an organisation. Find out more about the values we follow.

For more information please find the full job description below and refer to this before submitting your application. We also invite you to read our Life at Surrey handbook to see insights of the culture at Surrey and how as a valued employee you can help shape our Council.

The job advert closes at 23:59 on 11th September 2022.

Interviews will take place on 28th and 29th September 2022 at Fairmount House, Bull Hill, Leatherhead, KT22 7AH

This post has been designated as a politically restricted post in accordance with the Local Government and Housing Act 1989.

Contact Details

If you have any questions about the role, please contact Nancy El-Shatoury by email - nancy.el-shatoury@surreycc.gov.uk 

We look forward to receiving your application, please click on the apply online button below to submit.

Benefits

From flexible working to job sharing (where possible) we are committed to providing a healthy work life balance. A laptop and mobile will be supplied if applicable to your role. You will benefit from 26 days annual leave, rising to 28 days after 2 years' service, a generous local government salary related pension, as well as the option to join our car lease scheme. For more information about the wide variety of benefits you can take advantage of please visit MyBenefits for Surrey County Council staff.

Our Commitment

Surrey County Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. We want to be an inclusive and diverse employer of first choice reflecting the community we serve and particularly welcome applications from all under represented groups.