Back to search
Highways and Planning Senior Lawyer
We have a great opportunity to join our Highways and Planning legal team as a qualified Senior Solicitor or Lawyer. We are looking for a flexible and motivated colleague to join this friendly team. Our work is interesting and varied and we work for informed and appreciative client teams.
We come together in person for 2 days per week on average (40% of the working week). The team are very approachable with regular catch ups when working remotely.
Rewards and Benefits
- 26 days' holiday, rising to 28 days after 2 years' service and 31 days after 5 years' service
- Option to buy up to 10 days of additional annual leave
- An Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) to support health and well being
- Up to 5 days of carer's leave per year
- Paternity, adoption and dependants leave
- A generous local government salary related pension
- Lifestyle discounts including gym, travel, and shopping
- 2 paid volunteering days per year
- Learning and development hub where you can access a wealth of resources
About the Team
The team sits alongside other teams in the County's Legal Services, supporting the work of the County as Highway Authority and Minerals and Waste Planning Authority. The teams lawyers draft highways and planning agreements, providing advice on planning and highways enforcement, DCO work, appeals, and related litigation. We assist with reports to Committee and Cabinet and provide training for client teams. Our support of officers on enforcement directly benefits residents ensuring that obstruction, encroachment and planning breaches are addressed effectively.
About the Role
As a Senior Lawyer within the Highways and Planning legal team, you will conduct a number of highways and planning agreements, countryside and highways enforcement and mineral planning advice, working in a committed and positive way, sometimes to tight deadlines. Other work includes advising on general highways and planning issues, local government matters and have conduct of any related appeals / litigation. We work collaboratively with fellow lawyers in our District and Borough legal teams.
The person appointed to this post will have conduct of a number of highways and planning agreements, advise clients on highways and countryside laws regulations and enforcement options some high profile, securing significant benefits for Surrey residents. You will advise on general highways and planning issues, planning enforcement, local government law, Commons, Village Greens, Public Rights of Way, drainage and flooding, and have conduct of any related litigation. You will advise Members, particularly Members of the County's Planning and Regulatory Committee. You will deputise for the Principal Lawyer as required. The work is fast-paced and key to the delivery of the Council's strategic goals.
As a Senior Lawyer, you will have good experience in the relevant areas of law and the following skills and abilities:
- Negotiating highways and planning agreements;
- Providing solutions focused advice on a range of planning and highways matters
- Drafting briefs to Counsel;
- Drafting and servicing highways notices and TROs and advising on DMMOs;
- Involvement in s78 TCPA 1990 appeals and drafting of related s106 agreements;
- Supervision of paralegal and solicitor roles;
- Managing competing priorities to achieve client deadlines;
- Exemplary client care.
Shortlisting Criteria
To be considered for shortlisting for this position, your application will clearly evidence the following:
- You are a Solicitor, Barrister or Fellow of CILEX, eligible to practise in England and Wales with a current practising certificate issued by the relevant regulatory authority;
- Demonstrate recent legal experience in the relevant areas of highways and planning law;
- Experience of working with clients at all levels and ability to give clear, accurate and practical advice;
- Effective team working;
- Ability to negotiate a range of highways and planning legal agreements and be able to provide practical clear advice on a range of highways and planning matters;
- Ability to take on urgent, and sometimes unfamiliar, matters at short notice;
- Ability to manage competing priorities to achieve client deadlines.
Role Summary:
Roles at this level are substantial management roles, they are either managing a multi-functional support service within one of the Council's service areas, or coordinating a specific business development or advisory area. This may involve significant coordination of complex or diverse services, e.g. leading business support services to professional teams, or coordinating teams carrying out specialist advisory or administrative services. More specialised roles will require a full understanding of a professional or specialised field and will work with those both inside and outside the organisation, to influence the development of services or delivery of specific projects or council objectives. They will provide overall guidance to more junior managers in terms of planning, service standards and resources which underpin service level agreements. Planning takes place over a one year horizon.
They exercise a significant degree of flexibility and independence for decision making within their particular functional area, working to broad parameters and policy guidance. Roles at this level are accountable for the professionalism of service delivery under their remit.
Connect2Surreyis a trading style of Surrey & Kent Commercial Services LLP - A joint venture between Surrey County Council & Commercial Services Kent Ltd. Connect2Surrey is an equal opportunities Employment Agency & Business. It positively encourages applications from all suitably qualified and eligible candidates.
