Assistant Lawyer - Planning and Highways (part time, 22 hours per week)

At Bracknell Forest Council, legal excellence is our standard. We currently have an exciting opportunity for a part-time solicitor specialising in Planning and Highways. We pride ourselves on being a council which is stable and well-managed where our employees can thrive in a supportive environment. We understand the importance of a healthy work-life balance and offer a variety of flexible working practices, including options for remote working and arrangements that allow you to work from home, dependent on the needs of the service.

About you: We are seeking a qualified Solicitor, Barrister or Legal Executive with knowledge and experience in planning and highways. You will provide customer-focused, high-quality and responsive specialist legal advice and assistance, with your primary focus being in these areas. A high level of professional judgement and political awareness is required as you will be required to represent the council publicly in a variety of venues.

About the team: We are a small team who work closely together to make sure that we are providing the best support to the council’s officers and members. As one of our lawyers, you will be supported to develop your skills and competencies in a learning environment which values creativity, teamwork and innovation. Sometimes the work is challenging; however, there is also time for finding creative solutions and every day is different.

• To undertake legal work involving planning and highways matters including negotiation and drafting in connection with planning (s106) agreements and unilateral undertakings and highways (s38/278) agreements and associated agreements to include enforcement of these agreements.
• To have good working knowledge of the National Planning Policy Framework; local plans; neighbourhood plans and consultations, listed building, conservation area, affordable housing and Suitable Alternative Natural Greenspace (SANG) land.
• To be able to direct officers in the preparation of policies and strategic planning matters.
• To undertake planning appeals, judicial reviews and strategy work.
• To understand, draft and advise on Biodiversity Net Gain.
• To attend and advise at planning committees and other meetings of the council as required (Planning Committee in person on average four times a year); and to provide such legal advice and support to those meetings as may be required.
• To approve reports for, to attend and to give legal and procedural advice at Corporate Management Team, Cabinet and other groups as may be required in accordance with the law and the council’s constitution.
• To personally have conduct of an extensive case load relevant to your area of work and as required by service demand.
• To provide specialist legal advice to elected members, Chief Officers, senior managers and officers as part of a team of lawyers.
• To tailor the presentations and format of legal advice to suit the level and understanding of the instructing council officer.
• To attend courts, tribunals or other forums as required in relation to the post-holder’s case load in order to represent the council’s interests.
• Be adept at working independently as well as collaborating with other legal specialists when required.
• Instruct Cabinet when required.
• To be responsible for representing the interests of the service at a corporate level.
• You will be expected to develop and maintain effective working relationships with other service areas within the council and with outside organisations where appropriate.
• To give advice on policy making and procedural developments through analysing the legal framework and familiarisation with operational matters.
• To assist the management team with conduct of complex cases where requested to do so.
• To provide comprehensive practical and solution-focused legal advice and support on planning compliance.
• Liaise with service clients and other services affected by a matter in hand and coordinate, where necessary, any required input from other services.
• Advise on the best means of legally achieving the client’s objectives.
• Maintain personal case load information and case progress data including time recording in computerised form as instructed.
• Ensure that work is completed within set timescales or to client requirements and where applicable in accordance with time limits imposed by statute, courts and the Planning Inspectorate.
• To contribute to the provision of an effective and efficient value for money legal service.
• Undertake all the duties within the framework of equal opportunities.
• Demonstrating commitment to the values and required behaviours of the council as assessed at annual appraisal meetings.
• Any other duties as may be commensurate with the grade.

28 days annual leave increasing to 33 days after 3 years’ continuous service. The opportunity to buy up to 10 additional days annual leave per year and sell 5 days. Hybrid working opportunities to support your wellbeing and work-life balance. Electric vehicle salary sacrifice for an electric car at a fixed monthly cost (subject to eligibility). An inclusive and social working environment with a variety of staff networks. Life insurance cover (linked to the pension scheme). Enhanced maternity, paternity, adoption and fostering leave. Recognition of continuous service attained within the NHS and UKHSA when calculating some benefits such as annual leave entitlements, occupational maternity/paternity leave, and more. Career development through internal and external training opportunities. A great office location next to travel links and Bracknell Forest’s thriving town centre. Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) to support your health and wellbeing. Sports and Social Club. Discounted leisure centre and gym membership.

Our values: At Bracknell Forest Council, our values define who we are and what is important to us. Our core values are inclusive, ambitious, and always learning. These values influence the way we work with each other and the way we serve our residents and engage with our communities. We make our values real by demonstrating them in how we behave every day. If you are excited about joining a diverse team that celebrates learning and strives for excellence, we would love to hear from you.

Reasonable adjustments: We are committed to ensuring an inclusive recruitment process for all applicants. If you require any reasonable adjustments to support your application or interview, please let us know by contacting recruitment@bracknell-forest.gov.uk. We will work with you to support you throughout the process.

Interview date: Interviews will be held the week commencing 28th July 2025. Interviews will be conducted in person, providing candidates with the chance to personally meet the team and experience our work environment. We will be reviewing applications regularly and reserve the right to close the advert early if suitable candidates are identified. To avoid disappointment, you are advised to submit your application as soon as possible.

Please note AI is prohibited during the interview; any candidate using AI will be withdrawn from consideration.

Want to ask us a question? For an informal discussion or to ask any questions about this role, please contact: Helen Brewster - Assistant Borough Solicitor (Place Team) Tel: 01344 352037.

At Bracknell Forest, we champion equality, diversity and inclusion. At Bracknell Forest Council, we are always learning, ambitious and inclusive. Please see our candidate pack for more details. Bracknell Forest Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults. We expect everyone employed with us to share this commitment.

We can only accept applications from candidates currently residing in the UK. Candidates currently residing in the UK who require sponsorship to work are encouraged to assess their eligibility for a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) based on the relevant criteria. Please be aware that sponsorship availability varies and is subject to eligibility requirements and budget limitations. As a result, we cannot guarantee sponsorship for all roles and will evaluate sponsorship requests on a case-by-case basis.

No agencies please. Bracknell Forest Council – Working for Equality. We welcome applications from all sections of the community.

How to apply: Please apply online via the link provided. Please include a personal statement with your CV specifying why you are applying for this vacancy.