At a Glance
- Tasks: Manage complex planning cases and provide high-level legal advice across multiple councils.
- Company: Join Mid Kent Legal Services, a forward-thinking and innovative legal service provider.
- Benefits: Generous leave, wellbeing support, flexible working options, and free parking.
- Other info: Enjoy a supportive environment with excellent professional growth opportunities.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on vibrant communities while enjoying a rewarding public sector career.
- Qualifications: Qualified solicitor or equivalent with experience in planning law and local government.
The predicted salary is between 36000 - 60000 £ per year.
Mid Kent Legal Services (MKLS) provides legal services and advice across the Mid-Kent area (to Swale, Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells councils). The service covers a range of areas including Property and Regeneration, Planning, Contentious, Contracts & Commissioning and Corporate Governance. Working across multiple councils means a range of high-level, challenging and impactful work ranging from supporting the delivery of garden communities, to the redevelopment of large shopping centres, to letting very large contracts, to delivering affordable housing. In short, it’s a real opportunity to make a difference in an area with vibrant towns, beautiful villages and countryside and fantastic leisure and cultural amenities.
MKLS has a reputation as being forward thinking, progressive and innovative and is closely and strongly aligned with its partner authorities. It provides a supportive and nurturing environment, providing opportunities for staff to progress internally and uses technology to maximise the effective use of lawyers' time. In short, it is a great place to work.
The Role
As our Senior Lawyer (Planning), you will manage a caseload of complex planning work. Ensuring we operate at the forefront of legal excellence and align with Lexcel standards, you will provide high-level legal advice and services to elected members, senior managers and staff across all three local authorities. You will supervise less senior fee earners and Legal Support Officers, ensuring high-quality support in legal transactions. Additionally, you will:
- Stay updated on legal developments in property and regeneration law and practice
- Represent MKLS in internal working groups and external meetings
- Deputise for the Team Leader/Practice Area Lead when required
- Uphold the Council’s policies
This is an exciting time to join the MKLS Planning Team with a number of large and high-profile projects happening across the Partner Authorities. We are now looking for a Senior Lawyer (Planning) to join us on a full-time, permanent basis, working 34 hours per week.
The Benefits
- Generous annual leave plus time off office closure between Christmas and New Year
- Wellbeing support including confidential advice, counselling, flu vaccines
- Discounts on leisure, retail, and fuel and salary sacrifice schemes including Cycle to Work and car leasing
- Free parking across the 3 Partner Authority sites
- Season ticket loans for rail/bus travel
This is the ideal opportunity for an experienced planning lawyer with a track record of providing high-level legal advice to join our forward-thinking shared service. With exceptional benefits, a brilliant pension scheme and opportunities for professional growth, you’ll enjoy a rewarding public sector career with more flexibility and development and significantly less commuting. What’s more, we offer outstanding working arrangements, with the majority of your time spent working from home and a 34 hour working week including 1pm finishes on Fridays. On top of this, we offer a number of working options such as compressed hours, nine-day fortnights and part-time working, all within an inclusive and supportive working environment where your wellbeing is prioritised.
About You
To be considered as our Senior Lawyer (Planning), you will need:
- To be a qualified solicitor, barrister, chartered legal executive or have equivalent qualification and experience
- Experience providing legal advice and support to senior leaders and key decision-makers in planning law and practice
- Experience advising Members on all aspects of planning law and procedures
- Experience operating in politically sensitive environments
- Knowledge and understanding of the political nature of local government and democratic process
- A full, valid UK driving licence
Other organisations may call this role Senior Legal Counsel, Lead Lawyer, Legal Services Manager, Solicitor, Barrister, Chartered Legal Executive, or Senior Legal Manager.
Selection Process
Following the submission of your application form, it will be reviewed by the recruiting manager. Those that are successful can expect to secure a face-to-face interview. Swale Borough Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults and expects all employees and volunteers to share this commitment. Mid Kent Legal Services and Maidstone, Swale and Tunbridge Wells local authorities are equal opportunities employers, value diversity and are strongly committed to providing equal employment opportunities for all employees and all applicants for employment. Equal opportunities are the only acceptable way to conduct business and we believe that the more inclusive our environments are, the better our work will be.
If you would like to discuss this position, please contact Timothy Pyant, Interim Business Manager on 01622 602155.
Senior Lawyer - Planning in Maidstone employer: Swale Borough Council
Mid Kent Legal Services (MKLS) is an exceptional employer, offering a supportive and innovative work environment that prioritises employee wellbeing and professional growth. With a focus on impactful legal work across vibrant local councils, employees benefit from generous leave, flexible working arrangements, and a strong commitment to diversity and inclusion. Join us to make a meaningful difference in the community while enjoying a rewarding public sector career with excellent benefits and opportunities for advancement.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Senior Lawyer - Planning in Maidstone
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the legal field, especially those who work in planning. Attend local government events or legal seminars to meet potential colleagues and decision-makers. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings!
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by brushing up on your knowledge of current planning laws and local government processes. Be ready to discuss how your experience aligns with MKLS’s projects. Show them you’re not just a lawyer, but a strategic thinker who can make a real impact!
✨Tip Number 3
Don’t underestimate the power of follow-ups! After an interview, send a quick thank-you email to express your appreciation for the opportunity. It keeps you fresh in their minds and shows your enthusiasm for the role.
✨Tip Number 4
Apply through our website for the best chance at landing that Senior Lawyer position! We want to see your application directly, so don’t miss out on this opportunity to join a forward-thinking team that values innovation and support.
We think you need these skills to ace Senior Lawyer - Planning in Maidstone
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application:Make sure to customise your application to highlight your experience in planning law and how it aligns with the role. We want to see how your skills can make a difference in our vibrant communities!
Showcase Your Experience:Don’t hold back on sharing your past experiences, especially those involving high-level legal advice and working in politically sensitive environments. We love seeing how you’ve navigated complex situations!
Be Clear and Concise:Keep your application clear and to the point. We appreciate well-structured applications that get straight to the heart of your qualifications and motivations for joining us at MKLS.
Apply Through Our Website:Remember to submit your application through our website! It’s the best way to ensure it gets to the right people and helps us keep track of all the amazing candidates like you.
How to prepare for a job interview at Swale Borough Council
✨Know Your Planning Law
Brush up on the latest developments in planning law and practice. Be prepared to discuss recent cases or changes in legislation that could impact the role. This shows your commitment to staying at the forefront of legal excellence.
✨Demonstrate Leadership Skills
As a Senior Lawyer, you'll be supervising less senior fee earners. Prepare examples of how you've successfully led teams or mentored colleagues in the past. Highlight your ability to provide high-quality support in legal transactions.
✨Understand the Political Landscape
Familiarise yourself with the political nature of local government and the democratic process. Be ready to discuss how you’ve navigated politically sensitive environments in your previous roles, as this is crucial for advising Members effectively.
✨Showcase Your Communication Skills
Effective communication is key in this role. Prepare to demonstrate how you've provided legal advice to senior leaders and decision-makers. Use clear, concise language in your responses during the interview to reflect your ability to convey complex information simply.
