Planning and Environment Lawyer (Senior Legal Adviser)

Planning and Environment Lawyer (Senior Legal Adviser) at Hampshire County Council

Hampshire County Council, recognized nationally as one of the highest-performing local authorities in the United Kingdom, is seeking a skilled and motivated Planning and Environment Lawyer (Senior Legal Adviser) to join its Lexcel-accredited legal department. Based in Winchester, England, this full-time role offers a unique opportunity to work on challenging, high-profile, and complex public interest projects that directly improve the lives of Hampshire residents.

Key Responsibilities

As a Senior Legal Adviser within the Planning and Environment Team, the successful candidate will manage a large and varied caseload. Key duties include:

• Providing robust legal advice and representation to the County Council’s directorates, committees, members, and external partner bodies.
• Drafting and negotiating complex planning agreements, including Section 106 (s.106), Section 278 (s.278), and Section 38 (s.38) agreements.
• Conducting detailed legal research and representing the council in public inquiries.
• Offering guidance, support, and mentoring to junior colleagues within the team to enhance overall efficiency.

Eligibility Criteria

To be considered for this prestigious in-house position, candidates must meet the following professional requirements:

• Professional Qualification: Must be a qualified Solicitor, Barrister, or Chartered Legal Executive Lawyer (Fellow of CILEX).
• Practising Certificate: Must hold a current, valid practising certificate for England & Wales.
• Key Skills: Proven track record of sound legal judgment, a pragmatic and solution-focused approach, excellent communication skills, and the ability to manage strict deadlines under pressure.

Benefits and Work-Life Balance

Hampshire County Council is committed to supporting its staff by offering a healthy work-life balance and a comprehensive benefits package, which includes:

• Hybrid Working: Flexible working arrangements, allowing for a mix of remote work and office-based work in Winchester.
• Generous Leave: 25 to 28 days of annual leave, depending on prior Local Authority service.
• Pension Scheme: Access to the highly valued Local Government Pension Scheme.
• Additional Perks: Electric plug-in hybrid car salary sacrifice scheme, interest-free travel loans, and access to premium online legal research databases.

Application Details

Interested candidates should submit their applications through the official Hampshire County Council recruitment portal. Please review the complete Candidate Pack available on the application page before submitting your CV.