Planning & Highways Lawyer

Organisation: Leicestershire County Council

Work Location: County Hall, Glenfield, Leicestershire LE3 8RA

Salary: £41,259 - £55,602 per annum (pro-rata for part-time) + up to 10% Golden hello (Subject to Terms & Conditions)

Working Hours:37 hours per week

Contract Type: Permanent

Closing Date: 11th October 2026

Interview Date(s): TBC

Leicestershire County Council has an exciting opportunity for an experienced Planning and Highway Lawyer to join its supportive and well‑established Environment & Property legal team.

This role is ideally suited to a lawyer with a strong background in planning and development law who is looking to work on a high‑quality, varied and influential caseload. You will play a key role in advising senior officers and elected Members on complex planning and highway matters that directly shape growth, infrastructure and communities across Leicestershire.

Leicestershire County Council has an exciting opportunity for an experienced Planning and Highway Lawyer to join its supportive and well‑established Environment & Property legal team.

This role is ideally suited to a lawyer with a strong background in planning and development law who is looking to work on a high‑quality, varied and influential caseload. You will play a key role in advising senior officers and elected Members on complex planning and highway matters that directly shape growth, infrastructure and communities across Leicestershire.

The post holder will provide specialist legal advice on a wide range of planning issues, including planning committee work, major development proposals, section 106 obligations, enforcement and appeals. Highways and infrastructure matters form part of the role where they support planning and development activity.

We welcome applications from candidates with local authority or private practice experience, who are confident advising at Member level, comfortable attending planning committees, and able to provide clear, practical and solution‑focused legal advice.

• A planning‑focused role with meaningful involvement in development and infrastructure projects
• Regular exposure to planning committees and strategic decision‑making
• A supportive and collaborative legal team with strong professional leadership
• Opportunities to mentor and support colleagues, commensurate with experience

The Environment & Property Team comprises a mix of experienced lawyers and support staff and offers a positive working environment where professional development is encouraged.

• Professional qualification as an admitted Solicitor, Barrister entitled to practice, Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Legal Executives or Associate or Graduate Member working towards admission as a Fellow.
• Demonstrable recent experience of planning and highway law to include:
  Advising and attending as legal representative at planning committees. Drafting and negotiating and advising upon S106 planning agreements and highway infrastructure agreements. Providing legal advice at senior officer and Member level and advocacy on planning and highway enforcement matters.
• Experience or knowledge of highways and infrastructure agreements (including sections 38 and 278).
• Confident and comfortable in the conduct of complex and fast moving negotiations in relation to all aspects of planning and highways matters. Able to use IT applications including a computerised case management and legal research and time recording systems.
• Ability to communicate effectively orally and in writing with members, colleagues, customers and internal and external stakeholders and to persuade and influence an appropriate outcome.
• Ability to research…