Lawyer - Planning and Highways in Huddersfield

Are you a Planning and Highways Lawyer looking to take the next step in your career? Do you want to work on high profile, complex and varied matters that help shape places and communities across Kirklees?

We’re looking for a Lawyer to join our Planning & Highways Team within Kirklees Legal Services, where you’ll provide high quality legal advice, representation and support to the Council and partner organisations. This is a fantastic opportunity to work in a friendly, supportive and forward thinking legal team where your professional development is genuinely valued.

About The Role

As a senior member of our Planning and Highways team, you will:

• Deliver expert legal advice across Town and Country Planning, Highways, Public Rights of Way, Environmental Law, Traffic Regulation, CPO matters and related areas.
• Draft and negotiate complex legal agreements and orders including s106, s38, s278, and Traffic Regulation Orders.
• With support manage your own caseload, including high profile, sensitive and complex matters.
• Advise Members and Officers, attend committees, hearings and external meetings, and prepare clear and concise reports.
• Deal with public inquiries, judicial reviews, Planning Court proceedings, and enforcement actions.
• Support the commissioning of external legal work when needed.
• Mentor and support junior colleagues and contribute positively to the wider Legal Services team.
• Build strong working relationships with internal clients and external partners.

About You

You will be a Solicitor, Barrister or CILEx with advocacy rights, with:

• Strong practical experience in Planning and Highways Law in England and Wales.
• Excellent drafting, negotiation and analytical skills.
• The ability to communicate complex information clearly to a wide range of audiences.
• Proven resilience and the ability to manage competing demands and deadlines.
• A proactive, risk aware and solution focused approach.
• Commitment to delivering high quality, customer focused legal services.
• The ability to work independently with limited supervision and collaborate effectively as part of a team.

Experience in Environmental Law, Local Government Law or Public Rights of Way is desirable, but not essential.

What We Offer

• A clear career progression pathway.
• Supportive leadership and opportunities for professional development.
• The chance to work on meaningful and varied projects that make a real difference across Kirklees.
• A flexible, collaborative and values driven working environment.

Our Values

We’re proud of our positive, respectful and supportive culture. As a Kirklees Council employee, you’ll be expected to demonstrate behaviours aligned with our New Council approach, including honesty, flexibility, strong communication, and teamwork.

John Chapman is the manager for this role; please contact them on 01484 221000 for an informal discussion, or if you need any more information. We know there’s a wealth of talent among people who have a disability and we encourage applications from people with all differing abilities. So, if you need any support completing an application form, or any other format for the application or Job Description please contact the Recruitment Team for help by email or phone: 01484 221000 and ask for ‘Recruitment’. We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of vulnerable adults and children and young people and expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.

Closing date 15 February 2026, 11:55 PM