Planning and Highways Lawyer

Reading’s Legal Services Team is composed of our highly regarded internal Corporate Legal Team, serving the needs of the Council across a wide range of functions. Reading is also host to the Joint Legal Team, a long-standing shared legal service for all the Berkshire councils and a recognised centre of excellence for childcare, adults and education law.
The purpose of Legal Services is to provide the Council and its partners with the highest quality professional legal advice and representation which allows them to run their organisations well, and to serve our community. Our ambition is to be the best place to practice law in local government; being close to our customers, recruiting the best talent, successfully deploying legal technology and ensuring the continued growth of the business to new customers.
A range of several new appointments are on offer which reflect the continued growth and investment in the Legal team by the Council and its partners.
We are open to flexible working patterns and can provide a hybrid working environment which utilises the best of both worlds with a mix of office working in central Reading and home-working according to the needs of the Service.
We seek the best talent from the widest pool of people as diversity and inclusion is the key to our success. Reading Borough Council is a Disability Confident Employer and is committed to the recruitment and continued employment of people with disabilities.
About the role
You will report to the Principal Lawyer in each area who will support you in your work and in your professional development. We place considerable emphasis on learning and development in the role and you will be supported to develop your skills and to move to the next level in your career. You will also be assisted by our new Legal Operations Team supporting you in delivering your work as we invest further in our systems and processes and work towards Lexcel accreditation.
Whatever your specialism or previous experience, you will thrive on the challenge of working in a customer focussed environment and a in team which has an ambitious agenda for the future. You will have plenty of opportunity to join in the wider work of the team outside your specialist field in helping us to reach our team objectives.
All of our lawyer roles are open to qualified solicitors, barristers and chartered legal executives.
We have opportunities for Planning and Highways Lawyers to support a range of regulatory and transactional work and advice. We also support major planning enquiries and are developing further resource to support a renewed emphasis on enforcement work. It is not necessary to have both specialisms, but it would be desirable.
You’ll be part of a team that relies on each individual to play their part to the best of their ability. As well as the colleagues that you work closely with every day, you’ll also be part of Team Reading, playing your personal part in making Reading a successful and vibrant place.
About you
You'll be a qualified lawyer who can command the respect of clients whilst demonstrating extensive knowledge and experience of a specialist area of law (planning / highways)
The following experience is required for this role:
Offer legal and procedural advice to Members and Officers on Planning and Local Government law. This includes areas such as highways law, TPOs, enforcement and S106.
Enforcement experience
A team player who can contribute to the wider objectives of the team
Committed to learning and development of staff, colleagues and clients
Experience of delivering continuous improvement in terms of your practice and the work of your clients
Our offer
We offer a supportive environment to grow and develop your career with the opportunity to put your ideas across. Innovation and ambition is strongly encouraged, and you’ll get a great feel for that working in our friendly and collaborative environment.
A competitive salary alongside a range of benefits including:
Generous holiday entitlement - 25 days holiday each year plus bank holidays - rising to 33 days after 10 years' service, with the option to buy additional leave
A wide range of flexible working opportunities 
Modern working environment at the Civic Offices in the heart of Reading
Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS)
Life Assurance - three times your annual salary (for members of the LGPS)
On-site day nursery (Kennet Day nursery) rated outstanding by Ofsted
Season Ticket Loan - to help with the cost of your rail/ bus journey, to & from work
Lease car salary sacrifice scheme allowing you to lease a brand new, greener car for three years.  The monthly fee includes insurance, servicing and road tax
For more information on this position please contact Shaidah Ramzan, Legal Services Manager on shaidah.ramzan@reading.gov.uk
Closing Date: 31st January 2024
Interview Date: To be confirmed
Please note that the closing date is given as a guide. We reserve the right to close this vacancy once a sufficient number of applications has been received. Therefore, it is strongly advised that you complete and return your application as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.

Proud member of the Disability Confident employer scheme