Planning Lawyer

The Government Legal Department (GLD) is the largest provider of legal services across government, working with all the main Whitehall departments. From energy to security, from roads to rivers, health to human rights, our work touches on most aspects of public life. From developing and drafting legislation to helping to secure economic and trade relationships, providing legal advice on policies to ensuring value from contracts, our work is stimulating and varied.

We are currently looking to hire planning lawyers to work on high-profile, topical matters across several government legal department teams. There are roles in the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG), which is dedicated to changing and improving lives in the UK. As a specialist planning lawyer advising MHCLG you will support the Department’s agenda to drive up housing supply, which is a key part of the Government's growth agenda.

The GLD also provides legal advice to the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) which is responsible for safeguarding our natural environment, supporting our world-leading food and farming industry and sustaining a thriving rural economy. Our work spans domestic and international businesses that touch on the natural environment, animal welfare, food, farming and fisheries. As well as supporting international negotiations, we advise on the domestic legislation.

GLD lawyers giving advice to the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) focus on decarbonisation technologies, nuclear power, clean energy and heat, energy efficiency, combatting fuel poverty, energy security, energy networks, international energy commitments, climate change and net zero obligations. Planning lawyers advising DESNZ focus on planning and infrastructure advice.

Wherever your work is based, you’ll be well-supported to build your capability as a planning lawyer that offers high-quality, in-depth advice. This is an excellent foundation for progressing your career through specialising in a particular area of planning law. The Department for Transport is also seeking planning lawyers.

To be a success, specialist experience in planning and environment law is key. You will have a good technical knowledge of town and county planning or infrastructure law paired with a sound understanding of public law. It would be advantageous if you had experience in planning or environmental litigation and advisory experience whether through working in a law firm, as a barrister, in-house at a private company, public body, regulator or a non-governmental organisation.

You should have a good understanding of the role of lawyers in government. As a lawyer, you give risk-based advice paired with good judgement. You’re a creative and strategic thinker, able to see legal issues in their wider context. You use sound legal analysis and research to produce timely, fit-for-purpose advice. It’s important that you’re an effective communicator, both in writing and orally.

We’ll be assessing you on the following behaviours from our Success Profiles: communicating and influencing, working together, managing a quality service. All GLD employees must hold BPSS security clearance. If successful for this post, you must hold, or be willing and able to obtain, CTC for London and baseline elsewhere security clearance. You can start your position while getting/until you hold this clearance level.

GLD encourages its people to develop their skills in a nurturing environment. Other benefits include access to a valuable civil service pension and flexible working arrangements. Our vision is to be an outstanding legal organisation and a brilliant place to work where everyone can thrive and fulfil their potential. This is an exciting time for GLD, with cutting edge legal work on global issues and a transformation agenda which is ensuring the Department exemplifies the Modern Civil Service.

Closing date for applications: Noon Monday 20th April 2026.