Planning Lawyer

An exciting opportunity has arisen to join the progressive London Borough of Hackney Legal Service, where you will play a vital role in delivering the Mayor’s Priorities and the Council’s vision of keeping Hackney as a place for everyone. We are currently looking to recruit to the following position with the aim of developing an innovative and accessible service which contributes to the shaping of service delivery within a high profile Local Authority.

We are looking for a practising lawyer (i.e. a qualified solicitor, a barrister who has completed pupillage or a Fellow of the Institute of Legal Executives) who is solutions focused and driven to achieve successful outcomes for our clients.

You will be responsible for a mixed caseload and must be proactive in dealing with non-contentious matters. Excellent communication skills are essential, but you will also exemplify the tact and discretion needed to handle sometimes highly confidential and sensitive matters.

Commercialisation, Planning & Sustainable Procurement Team: We need an experienced planning lawyer to join the Commercialisation, Planning & Sustainable Procurement Team which advises and undertakes all aspects of planning law within a Local Authority setting. The focus is drafting and preparation of section 106 Legal Agreements, Highway Agreements, researching areas of law and presenting them in clear and understandable terms to the client, Planning Appeals, Planning Committees, understanding the workings of local government and other matters.

We require lawyers with excellent professional knowledge, with good understanding of governance and an attention to detail. Inevitably you will demonstrate resilience and tenacity but above all you must have a real enthusiasm for this area of work.

If you would like to have an informal chat about the role, please contact either Patrick Rodger (Senior Lawyer) on 0208 356 6187 or Georgia Lazari Team Leader (Places) on 0208 356 1369.

We operate a fair and open anonymous selection process. Therefore, we do not accept supporting statements or CVs. To proceed with your application, you will need to create an account and submit your application. As part of the application process, you will need to complete a number of competency based questions. These questions allow you to demonstrate your suitability for the role and provide examples of your skills, knowledge and experience outlined in the job description.

We understand the benefits of using AI in the workplace. However, if you are thinking of using this tool to submit your application, we ask you to think about what value it will add. AI tools tend to lack the personal touch and authenticity we value in candidates. We encourage you to showcase your unique knowledge and skills using your own voice. This application process replaces a supporting statement.

Closing date for applications: 15 February 2026 (22:59) Interview and assessment date: W/C 02 March 2026.

Proud Ambitious Pioneering Open Proactive Inclusive Hackney Council works to eradicate discrimination on the basis of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, and sexual orientation. We also recognise that people can be disadvantaged by their social and economic circumstances, so we will also work to eliminate discrimination and disadvantage caused by social class. We also welcome those interested in flexible working. We particularly welcome applications from disabled people, as this group is currently under represented in our workforce.

The Council has a dedicated employment support service (Hackney Works), which offers Hackney residents guidance in relation to applying for jobs. If you are thinking about applying for a job, please contact the Hackney Works team to find out what support is available: hackneyworks@hackney.gov.uk.