Highways Planning Lawyer

Job Summary

• 3 months contract with a Local Authority
• Surrey County Council is seeking an experienced Highways and Planning Lawyer (Senior Lawyer) to join the Legal Services team within Law & Governance on a temporary basis.
• The role provides high-quality legal advice, representation, and support to enable the Council to discharge its functions lawfully and effectively, with a particular focus on highways, planning, and related public law matters.
• The post holder will manage a demanding and varied caseload with minimal supervision, support junior lawyers, contribute to service leadership, and help reduce reliance on external legal providers.
• The role operates within a Lexcel-accredited, paper-light legal service and supports flexible working arrangements.

• Provide expert legal advice and representation to the Council, its members, officers, and committees on highways, planning, and related legal matters.
• Act as a Senior Lawyer, managing a full and complex caseload with minimal supervision.
• Support and, where required, deputise for senior management, assisting in the management of a group of lawyers within identified work areas.
• Supervise, mentor, and support junior legal staff, ensuring high standards of professional practice and service delivery.
• Undertake and / or manage advocacy in legal proceedings as required.
• Contribute to the development of policies and procedures within Legal Services and Planning‑related functions.
• Support the Monitoring Officer, including advising on potential illegality or procedural default.
• Contribute to the Council’s objective of reducing reliance on external legal services, ensuring value for money.
• Maintain accurate and contemporaneous records using electronic case management systems, in line with Lexcel standards.
• Contribute to training and development activities across the Council to ensure awareness of legal changes and emerging issues.
• Demonstrate awareness of legal spend and budget control, particularly when commissioning external advice.
• Lead by example in embedding the Council’s values, behaviours, equality, and inclusion commitments.

• Proven experience in highways law, planning law, and related public sector legal work.
• Experience working within a local authority or public sector legal environment.
• Strong ability to manage a complex and high‑volume caseload independently.
• Experience supervising, mentoring, or managing junior lawyers or legal staff.
• Knowledge of local government governance, decision‑making, and committee processes.
• Experience providing legal advice to senior officers and elected members.
• Strong advocacy, drafting, and negotiation skills.
• Excellent organisational, analytical, and decision‑making abilities.
• Confidence working within Lexcel standards and electronic case management systems.

• The start date: 10 / 01 / 2026.
• Qualified Solicitor, Barrister, or Legal Executive with substantial post‑qualification experience.