Principal Planning Lawyer - Mole Valley District Council in Dorking

Varied and extensive, including complex, planning legal work.

Mole Valley District Council is the local government body for the Mole Valley district in Surrey, England, responsible for services like housing, planning, waste collection, and council tax, serving towns like Dorking and Leatherhead, and surrounding villages, managing a largely rural area rich in countryside which includes areas of Green Belt and the Surrey Hills National Landscape.

You will work as the Principal Planning solicitor in the Council's Legal Services Team, where team members work together to provide comprehensive legal services to colleagues throughout the Council covering and supporting each other.

Your main duties include the conduct of all aspects of varied and extensive, including complex, planning legal work as allocated by the Service Lead - Legal or Assistant Service Lead - Legal or in response to instructions received from the client departments including from officers in the Council's Development Management Service. This will include:

• General advice to officers and elected members (in public or private);
• Drafting, negotiating and completing section 106 agreements;
• Planning enforcement including potentially representing the Council in public enquiries, magistrates and county court hearings and instructing Counsel as appropriate.

You will:

• Work with minimal supervision while keeping a worklist, prioritising effectively and keeping colleagues informed about one’s own work;
• Work closely with our legal assistant(s) to supervise the administrative support they provide on legal transactions;
• Support and mentor colleagues where requested to do so by the Service Lead or Assistant Service Lead.

This is a politically restricted post as defined by the Local Government and Housing Act 1989.

Please note that this role is available on a Hybrid Basis; however, you must have a willingness, on request and with reasonable notice, to attend Committee Meetings which are normally held in the evening should there be matters of particular complexity or reputational importance (attendance at these meetings is not anticipated to be required more than six times a year).

The successful candidate will be a qualified solicitor or barrister of England and Wales with a current Practising Certificate (without conditions) or alternatively a qualified Legal Executive with evidence of continued professional development.

Essential Experience and Knowledge:

• Demonstrable and significant knowledge and understanding of planning law and practice (including relevant legislation, case law and policy).
• A demonstrable track record of providing legal advice and support at a senior level in planning law and practice.
• Some advocacy experience in representing your client at public inquiries and informal hearings.
• An awareness of relevant laws, practices and procedures of local government administration.

Desirable Experience and Knowledge:

• Experience of advocacy before relevant courts and Tribunals or willingness to develop that experience.
• Experience in and an understanding of the importance of effective decision making in respect of public law decisions (including advising members of the risks of potential challenge by way of judicial review or willingness to develop that experience and understanding).
• A willingness to acquire knowledge and experience in regulatory and public law (including but not limited to licensing, standards and information governance as examples).

What's on Offer:

The salary range on offer for this position is £57,245 - £62,151 plus a £6,000 Market Supplement. The stated salary is subject to a cost of living increase with effect from 1 April 2026, which is equivalent to at least the Local Government national pay awards as granted to the National Joint Council for Local Government.

The additional benefits on offer include:

• Pension: Access to the robust Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS).
• Health and Wellbeing: Discounted leisure centre memberships, cinema/event discounts, shopping/restaurant deals through Kaarp, plus online learning for skills and wellbeing.
• Work life balance: Free parking at key sites, access to EV charging, and potential for flexible working.
• Financial: Car mileage allowances, Cyclescheme for tax‑free bikes and ebikes, and potential for childcare vouchers.
• Learning and Development: Comprehensive online courses and support.