At a Glance
- Tasks: Join us to provide top-notch legal advice in real estate and planning.
- Company: Womble Bond Dickinson, a leading international law firm with a collaborative culture.
- Benefits: Enjoy flexibility, competitive salary, remote work options, and continuous professional development.
- Why this job: Make a real impact while enjoying a variety of in-house experiences.
- Qualifications: 3-8 years' PQE in real estate or planning, with strong communication skills.
- Other info: Embrace a supportive environment that values diversity and well-being.
The predicted salary is between 55000 - 65000 ÂŁ per year.
Womble Bond Dickinson (WBD) is a leading international law firm known for combining legal excellence with a genuinely collaborative, client‑focused approach. Through WBD Advance InHouse, we provide high‑calibre lawyers to work directly within our clients' legal teams, offering flexibility, variety and genuine in‑house experience backed by the strength of a top‑tier law firm.
We are growing our core permanent team of WBD Advance InHouse Lawyers and are also open to those who prefer the flexibility of a fixed‑term contract. We’re keen to speak with Real Estate or Planning Lawyers with 3–8 years' PQE, ideally with experience gained in‑house or through secondments, though we also welcome applications from private practice lawyers looking to broaden their experience in an in‑house environment.
You’ll bring strong technical expertise in real estate and/or planning matters, alongside a pragmatic, commercial mindset. The ability to quickly integrate into new environments and build strong relationships with stakeholders across our clients' businesses is essential. You’ll be curious, collaborative and comfortable representing WBD within client teams. Part of the role involves strengthening client relationships and working with relevant WBD Partners to identify opportunities for growth with the clients you support.
To Be Successful, You'll Need:
- A minimum of 3 years' PQE as a Solicitor qualified in England & Wales, Scotland or another common law jurisdiction
- Experience advising on real estate and/or planning matters, such as:
- Commercial property transactions
- Landlord and tenant matters
- Development and regeneration projects
- Planning applications, appeals and inquiries
- Infrastructure, energy or transport‑related planning work
WBD InHouse offers something different. You'll be embedded within our clients' businesses, delivering practical, commercial advice while enjoying the support, resources and backing of a leading international law firm. As a permanent WBD Advance InHouse employee, you'll be consistently seconded to our clients' legal teams, performing the role of an in‑house lawyer while remaining fully integrated into Womble Bond Dickinson, with access to the same resources, know‑how and training opportunities as our fee‑earners. This model offers both stability and variety, with secondments across a wide range of sectors. Alternatively, joining us on a fixed‑term contract for the duration of a secondment offers flexibility between assignments while still benefiting from the same resources, know‑how and training as permanent team members.
What You'll Get:
- High‑quality, meaningful in‑house work with leading organisations
- Exposure to different sectors, teams and challenges
- Continued development of your technical and soft skills
- The backing, resources and support of Womble Bond Dickinson, plus the community of the WBD Advance InHouse team
- A culture that values collaboration, innovation and doing things the right way
- Flexibility — we support full‑time and part‑time working patterns, and most secondments are fully remote or hybrid
- Access to WBD's employee benefits
If you're a real estate or planning lawyer ready for your next chapter — or a private practice lawyer looking to gain high‑quality in‑house experience — we’d love to talk. Discover how flexible in‑house law can really be with WBD Advance InHouse.
We continually work hard to create an open culture that sets us apart from other firms. Our culture gives us much more of a human feel, emphasising that we’re more than just suits! As signatories to the Mindful Business Charter, it’s important to us that our people are able to maintain healthy and happy lives, both in and out of work. We have a number of resources and initiatives designed to support health and wellbeing and we’re very happy to talk flexible working.
Through our DEI initiatives we create an environment in which difference is valued. We have a Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Group, led by our Board Sponsor, which works with our colleague networks (we currently have firm supported networks for race, ethnicity, and cultural heritage, LGBTQ+, disabilities, neurodiversity, families, and women’s career development and we’re in constant dialogue with our people about how we expand our networks to better support everybody). We encourage applicants from all social backgrounds, ethnicities, disabilities, gender identities and sexual orientations. We are committed to ensuring our recruitment process is inclusive and accessible to all.
If you have a disability or long term condition and need us to make any adjustments to give you the best possible recruitment process, please let us know by contacting the recruiter on the right hand side of this page. Please also let us know if you need this job advert or the application form in a different format. We will offer an interview to candidates with a disability or long‑term condition who meet the minimum criteria for this role. You can opt into this scheme within the application form.
InHouse Lawyer (Real Estate & Planning) employer: Womble Bond Dickinson
Contact Detail:
Womble Bond Dickinson Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land InHouse Lawyer (Real Estate & Planning)
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Get out there and connect with people in the real estate and planning sectors. Attend industry events, join relevant online forums, and don’t be shy about reaching out on LinkedIn. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings!
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for those interviews! Research Womble Bond Dickinson and understand their approach to in-house legal work. Be ready to discuss how your experience aligns with their values and how you can contribute to their collaborative culture.
✨Tip Number 3
Show off your soft skills! While technical expertise is crucial, being able to build relationships and communicate effectively is just as important. Think of examples from your past roles where you’ve successfully collaborated with clients or colleagues.
✨Tip Number 4
Apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people. Plus, it shows you’re genuinely interested in joining WBD Advance InHouse. Don’t miss out on this opportunity!
We think you need these skills to ace InHouse Lawyer (Real Estate & Planning)
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV reflects the specific skills and experiences that match the InHouse Lawyer role. Highlight your PQE, especially in real estate and planning matters, and don’t forget to showcase any in-house experience or secondments.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to explain why you’re interested in this role at WBD and how your background aligns with our collaborative, client-focused approach. Be genuine and let your personality come through!
Showcase Your Communication Skills: Strong communication is key for this role. In your application, demonstrate how you've built relationships with stakeholders in the past. Use examples that highlight your ability to work autonomously while still being a team player.
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way to ensure your application gets the attention it deserves. Plus, you’ll find all the info you need about the role and our culture there!
How to prepare for a job interview at Womble Bond Dickinson
✨Know Your Stuff
Make sure you brush up on your real estate and planning law knowledge. Be prepared to discuss specific cases or projects you've worked on, especially those that showcase your technical expertise and commercial mindset.
✨Show Your Collaborative Spirit
Womble Bond Dickinson values collaboration, so be ready to demonstrate how you've built strong relationships in previous roles. Share examples of how you've worked with stakeholders to achieve common goals, as this will resonate well with their client-focused approach.
✨Be Flexible and Open-Minded
Since WBD offers various engagement options, express your willingness to adapt to different working styles. Whether you're interested in a permanent role or a fixed-term contract, showing that you're open to flexibility will make you a more attractive candidate.
✨Ask Insightful Questions
Prepare thoughtful questions about the firm's culture, the types of clients you'll work with, and opportunities for professional development. This not only shows your genuine interest but also helps you assess if WBD is the right fit for you.