Planning Solicitors (East Midlands/East Anglia) in Leicester

We have an exciting opportunity for enthusiastic and ambitious Planning Solicitors to join our rapidly growing team. You can choose your office base across our regions but with the opportunity to work from any of our other locations from time to time. You will be working with a broad range of clients on all aspects of planning law for projects across the Eastern Region and the Midlands and beyond from residential and commercial development to retail, agriculture and renewable energy schemes. Our planning team act for numerous national house builders and regional developers, promoters, landowners and public sector clients. This is a friendly team, led by highly experienced practitioners with the ability to provide you with the necessary support and guidance to develop your career.

Some of your duties will include:

• Advise and assist clients in relation to their planning and associated matters, ensuring a high level of client service is maintained at all times and that the client’s aims are met (subject to professional and regulatory requirements)
• Manage all aspects of the client relationship, from engagement to billing and chasing payment
• Prepare and review legal documents including development agreements and court proceedings
• Ensuring compliance with all file management processes, including those related to file audits
• Working as a team with colleagues in promoting the interests of Howes Percival and in undertaking their role
• Complying with all legislative and regulatory requirements
• Updating and consulting with Senior Associates and Partners
• Managing client cases from start to finish

About you and your experience:

• Qualification ranging from 1 to 6 years PQE
• Hard working, personable and eager to learn and develop as part of our team
• Working knowledge of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 and associated legislation
• Drafting advice to clients on planning issues
• Experience in drafting section 106 agreements and infrastructure agreements including highways and drainage and ability to manage such matters from instruction to conclusion
• Knowledge of enforcement as well as CLEUDs and CLOPUDs
• Able to manage workloads and deal effectively with clients and colleagues

The following experience is not essential, but would be desirable:

• Experience in instructing Counsel, leading planning appeals and judicial review/statutory challenges
• Working knowledge of Environmental Impact Assessment and Appropriate Assessment
• Some knowledge of Development Consent Orders and Compulsory Purchase
• Ability to deliver presentations/seminars in person or through webinar
• Managing and supervising more junior members of the team when required

At Howes Percival, we are driven by a commitment to our clients and a passion for achieving their goals. With a rich heritage spanning over 200 years, we have evolved into a leading law firm with a reputation for delivering exceptional results across a wide range of practice areas. Our team comprises highly skilled lawyers who combine deep industry knowledge with innovative thinking to provide strategic advice and tailored solutions to our diverse client base.

As an employer, we value talent, diversity, and collaboration. We foster a supportive and inclusive culture where every team member is empowered to thrive and make a meaningful impact. Joining Howes Percival means being part of a dynamic growing and forward-thinking firm dedicated to excellence in legal practice and client service.

We achieved a three-star ‘World Class’ accreditation in the top 75 “Best Companies” (formerly The Sunday Times Best Companies Awards) and ranked 5th in the top 75 “UK's Best Large Companies to Work For” category for 2025. We have been ranked #1 Best Law Firm to work for in the UK by Best Companies for 2025 and #1 company in the East Midlands region. We have been accredited with “Investors in People” since 1996 and were shortlisted for Employer of the Year in 2023. Our lawyers come from a variety of backgrounds, many from larger and City firms, some from in-house – we all share the same Howes Percival DNA and all of this rich experience is there for you to learn from. We offer a wide range of benefits for all our valued employees including (but not limited to); Perks at Work discounts, profit share scheme and discretionary bonus, 25 days holiday entitlement, one paid ‘charity day’ per year, comprehensive private medical cover, plus a well-being calendar with a wide range of regular events.