Overview

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. The team comes 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.

Responsibilities

• 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.
• Advise on general highways and planning issues, local government matters and conduct related appeals/litigation; collaborate with District and Borough legal teams.
• Advise on highways and countryside laws, regulations and enforcement options, including some high profile matters, securing benefits for Surrey residents.
• Advise Members, particularly Members of the County's Planning and Regulatory Committee; deputise for the Principal Lawyer as required.
• Advise on planning enforcement, local government law, Commons, Village Greens, Public Rights of Way, drainage and flooding; manage related litigation.
• Provide solutions-focused advice on a range of planning and highways matters; draft briefs to Counsel; draft and service highways notices and TROs and advise on DMMOs.
• Involvement in s78 TCPA 1990 appeals and drafting of related s106 agreements.
• Supervise paralegal and solicitor roles; manage competing priorities to achieve client deadlines; deliver exemplarily on client care.

Shortlisting Criteria

• 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 highways and planning law; experience of working with clients at all levels and ability to give clear, accurate and practical advice.
• Effective teamwork; ability to negotiate a range of highways and planning legal agreements and provide practical clear advice on a range of matters.
• Ability to take on urgent, and sometimes unfamiliar, matters at short notice; ability to manage competing priorities to achieve deadlines.

Role Summary

Roles at this level are substantial management roles; they may involve managing a multi-functional support service within a Council service area or coordinating a specific business development or advisory area. This includes coordinating complex or diverse services, leading business support services to professional teams, or coordinating specialist advisory or administrative services. More specialised roles require understanding a professional field and working with internal and external stakeholders to influence service development or project delivery. They provide guidance to junior managers on planning, service standards, and resources underpinning 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 area, working to broad parameters and policy guidance, and are accountable for the professionalism of service delivery under their remit.

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 team’s lawyers draft highways and planning agreements, provide 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 by addressing obstruction, encroachment and planning breaches effectively.

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
• Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) to support health and wellbeing
• Up to 5 days of carer’s leave per year
• Paternity, adoption and dependants leave
• Local government salary related pension
• Lifestyle discounts including gym, travel, and shopping
• 2 paid volunteering days per year
• Learning and development hub with resources

Connect2Surrey is 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.