Role: Planning Lawyer
Contract Length: 6 months with view to extend to 12 months
Location: London (60% hybrid)
Interview Process: 1 stage over Teams (competency)
Overview
We are seeking experienced Planning Lawyers to join the Government Legal Department, supporting the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) on a broad range of high-profile planning, infrastructure and public law matters.
This is a policy-facing advisory role supporting major government priorities, including planning reform, infrastructure delivery, and legally complex, often contentious decision-making.
The Role
This is a varied advisory role combining:
· Planning and environmental law advice
· Public law / judicial review risk
· Policy development and legislation support
· High-profile casework
You will advise Ministers, policy teams and officials on:
· Planning decisions (including called-in decisions and appeals)
· Planning reform and legislation (including SIs)
· Infrastructure and major development projects
· Legal risk and potential challenge (including JR)
Key Responsibilities
· Provide pragmatic, risk-based legal advice on planning, environmental and public law matters
· Advise on major infrastructure and development projects (e.g. Energy, transport, regeneration)
· Support policy development and legislative change, including drafting secondary legislation
· Advise on judicial review risk and litigation strategy
· Work closely with policy officials and stakeholders across government
· Deliver clear, timely advice in a fast-paced, high-profile environment
Essential Experience
Suppliers should prioritise candidates with:
· Strong planning law experience (private practice, public sector or equivalent)
· Experience across infrastructure, major projects or complex developments
· Exposure to environmental law / EIA / regulatory frameworks
· Experience advising on or supporting judicial review / contentious matters
· Demonstrable ability to provide practical, commercially aware advice
· Strong analytical and communication skills
Highly Desirable Experience
· Experience with Section 106 agreements / planning obligations / CIL
· Exposure to Development Consent Orders (DCOs) or large-scale consenting regimes
· Experience of legislation or statutory instrument drafting
· Experience advising government or public bodies (not essential)
Profile We Are Seeking
This role would suit lawyers who:
· Have worked on complex, high-value development or infrastructure matters
· Understand how planning decisions are challenged and defended
· Can operate effectively in a policy-driven, political environment
· Provide clear, pragmatic advice under time pressure
· Are comfortable working across a broad range of planning issues (not overly niche)
Additional Notes for Suppliers (Important)
· Candidates from private practice, in-house, or international jurisdictions are all welcomed, provided experience is transferable
· Candidates do not need prior central government experience
· Broad planning + infrastructure exposure is preferred over narrow specialism
· Candidates should demonstrate end-to-end involvement in projects, not just transactional support
Qualifications
· Qualified Solicitor or Barrister
· circa 3+ PQE (flexible depending on experience)
Strong candidates will typically show:
· Involvement in major infrastructure / energy / regeneration projects
· Experience with planning obligations, consenting, or approvals
· Exposure to litigation or judicial review risk
· Ability to balance legal accuracy with practical delivery considerations