Senior Solicitor/Lawyer – Property, Planning & Environment

Job Introduction

Job Overview

Support and assist the Head of Legal Services to deliver an efficient, effective and responsive service to clients advising primarily on commercial property and some residential property queries and/or planning and environmental matters.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide specialist input to the Service Director and the Head of Legal Services in the delivery and improvement of its services and business strategies
• Represent BCP Council as and when required in all complex, high value or high risk property, planning & environment legal proceedings 
• Deliver clear, consistent and accurate legal advice to officers, members and clients on all complex, high value or high risk matters relating to property, planning and environment 
• Procure external legal assistance when requested to do so
• Take necessary action under the relevant legislation and case law and ensure appropriate professional standards are maintained in line with accepted good practice
• Manage a busy caseload

Specific Qualifications and Experience

• Qualified solicitor or barrister or Chartered Legal Executive
• Extensive post qualification experience in the relevant areas of the law, equivalent to PQE 5 
• Up to date knowledge of relevant areas of the law and proceedings
• Demonstrable experience of persuasion and negotiation at a senior level

 Personal Qualities & Attributes

• Ability to provide creative and innovative solutions to complex procedural and legal issues 
• Tact and diplomacy
• Ability to work on own initiative and represent Legal Services at all levels within the authorities and externally
• Ability to give complex and specialist advice in highly sensitive and pressurised situations
• Ability to deliver pragmatic and cost effective advice and solutions to clients

Job Requirements

• Must be able to travel, using public or other forms of transport where they are viable, or by holding a valid UK driving licence with access to own or pool car

For any informal discussion about this role, please contact Daniel Crossland on 01202 123738 or email daniel.crossland@bcpcouncil.gov.uk 

About BCP Council

BCP Council provides services to a diverse community of 400,000 residents and employs more than 5,000 people. Our area includes over 15 miles of beautiful world-renowned coastline. We can offer career defining roles to transform and improve services. By working with us, you can help deliver a vision of a thriving, word-class, prosperous and inclusive place for generations to come.

Our Benefits

We offer an excellent benefits package to colleagues. Find out more on our website

As a result of the creation of BCP Council in 2019, we are working on simplifying our terms and conditions of service and will be creating a single pay structure which is to be applicable for all employees. It is important to us that we offer benefits that our colleagues value as part of their total employment package and we are reviewing these to make sure we have it right. We are in the process of establishing a timescale for implementation and colleagues joining us will be included in these changes. This is expected to be in place in 2025.