At a Glance
- Tasks: Advise on complex planning projects and manage your own caseload.
- Company: Join a supportive firm focused on sustainable legal practice.
- Benefits: Gain partner-led experience with a balanced workload for career growth.
- Other info: Opportunity to work with high-profile clients and diverse projects.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in planning law while enjoying a healthy work-life balance.
- Qualifications: Newly qualified to 5 years’ PQE with planning law experience.
The predicted salary is between 40000 - 50000 £ per year.
Work on complex planning and development projects. Advise high-quality clients. Build your career with balance.
The Opportunity
We are looking for a Planning Solicitor with up to 5 years’ PQE to join our specialist team, advising on a broad range of complex and high-value planning matters. You will support a diverse client base including high-net-worth individuals, developers, landowners, businesses and public sector organisations on projects that shape the built and natural environment. Working closely with highly experienced colleagues and partners, you will gain early exposure to sophisticated work, strategic decision-making and client relationships from the outset. This role offers the opportunity to develop broad expertise across planning law, including applications and appeals, enforcement, judicial review and infrastructure matters, while building a long-term career in a firm that combines high-quality work with a more balanced and sustainable approach to practice. Alongside supporting the wider team, you will manage your own caseload and take real responsibility for matters, with direct partner support and mentoring throughout your development.
What You Will Be Doing
You will advise on a wide range of planning and development matters, including:
- Planning applications, appeals and objections
- Section 106 agreements and highways agreements (s38/s278)
- High Court challenges and Judicial Review
- Enforcement, prosecutions and lawfulness matters, including Certificates of Lawfulness
- Compulsory Purchase Orders (CPO), village greens and public rights of way
- Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) and Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) matters
You will work across both contentious and non-contentious matters, providing clear, commercially focused advice tailored to clients’ objectives.
What Sets This Role Apart
- Partner-led from day one: You will work directly with partners from the outset, gaining exposure and experience that many solicitors take years to access elsewhere.
- High-quality work: Our matters are complex, high-value and often bespoke, delivered to the standards clients would expect from much larger firms.
- A more balanced way of working: We believe exceptional legal work should be delivered sustainably. Our approach to workload and billing supports long-term career development without compromising wellbeing.
About You
We are looking for a confident, commercially minded solicitor who is keen to develop within a specialist planning team. You will:
- Be newly qualified up to 5 years’ PQE
- Have experience in planning law across contentious and non-contentious matters
- Demonstrate a commercial approach and the ability to work to deadlines
- Be confident managing multiple matters and delivering excellent client service
- Have strong communication skills and be comfortable working with a broad range of clients
- Have excellent attention to detail and a commitment to quality
Experience in environmental, energy or regulatory matters would be beneficial, but is not essential. You will also be willing to contribute to business development and marketing activity where appropriate.
Apply for This Role
If you are looking to build your planning law career within a supportive, high-performing team that combines quality work with a sustainable approach to practice, we would love to hear from you.
NQ Planning Solicitor in Warrington employer: Sellick Partnership
Contact Detail:
Sellick Partnership Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land NQ Planning Solicitor in Warrington
✨Network Like a Pro
Get out there and connect with people in the planning law field! Attend industry events, join relevant groups on LinkedIn, and don’t be shy about reaching out to professionals for a chat. Building relationships can open doors to opportunities that aren’t even advertised.
✨Showcase Your Expertise
Create a portfolio that highlights your experience in planning law. Whether it’s case studies, articles, or presentations, having tangible evidence of your skills can set you apart. Share this on your LinkedIn profile and during interviews to demonstrate your knowledge and passion.
✨Ace the Interview
Prepare for your interviews by researching the firm and its recent projects. Be ready to discuss how your background aligns with their work in planning law. Practice common interview questions and think about how you can showcase your commercial mindset and client service skills.
✨Apply Through Our Website
Don’t forget to apply directly through our website! It shows your enthusiasm for the role and gives us a chance to see your application in the best light. Plus, we love seeing candidates who take that extra step to engage with us directly.
We think you need these skills to ace NQ Planning Solicitor in Warrington
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application: Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter for the Planning Solicitor role. Highlight your experience in planning law and how it aligns with the complex projects we handle at StudySmarter.
Showcase Your Skills: Don’t just list your qualifications; demonstrate how your skills can benefit our diverse client base. Use specific examples from your past experiences that reflect your ability to manage multiple matters and deliver excellent client service.
Be Authentic: Let your personality shine through in your application. We value strong communication skills, so don’t hesitate to express your passion for planning law and your commitment to quality work in a way that feels true to you.
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you’re considered for this exciting opportunity to join our supportive team.
How to prepare for a job interview at Sellick Partnership
✨Know Your Planning Law
Brush up on your knowledge of planning law, especially the areas mentioned in the job description like Section 106 agreements and judicial reviews. Being able to discuss these topics confidently will show your genuine interest and expertise.
✨Showcase Your Client Service Skills
Prepare examples that highlight your ability to deliver excellent client service. Think about times when you managed multiple matters or worked with diverse clients, as this will demonstrate your capability to thrive in a busy environment.
✨Ask Insightful Questions
Prepare thoughtful questions about the firm’s approach to complex planning projects and how they support work-life balance. This not only shows your interest in the role but also helps you gauge if the firm aligns with your career goals.
✨Demonstrate Commercial Awareness
Be ready to discuss how you can provide commercially focused advice tailored to clients’ objectives. Understanding the business side of planning law will set you apart and show that you’re thinking beyond just the legal aspects.