Planning Associate Solicitor

Seeking an exceptional quality of national work in a tight-knit, friendly, and high-performing team?

This Top 50, award-winning business balances prestigious clients and complex work with a considerate working environment and positive integration with life outside the office.

Their highly respected national Planning team seeks an Associate (3+ PQE) to join their vibrant Newcastle office.

The Firm

Having an international reach, this full-service firm is highly regarded for its breadth and depth of legal expertise. Regardless of whether the client is a FTSE 100 company, small family business, or individual, the firm aims to build long-term trusted relationships built on a foundation of expertise and integrity.

Despite being a Top 100 firm globally, the business maintains an excellent working culture which insiders report is supportive and friendly. Partners are generous with their time and there is a sense of everyone genuinely pulling together to achieve shared goals.

Unlike many who manage the quality and range of work undertaken by this firm, there are ingrained flexible work practices, and an emphasis is placed on ensuring staff can work in a way that best suits them. Moreover, there is excellent support in place to encourage employees to pursue their areas of interest and specialism, meaning staff can direct their own careers resulting in increased fulfilment at work.

It boasts numerous Legal 500 and Chambers Tier rankings as well as many individuals who have gained individual recognition for their legal expertise and client management.

If you are seeking a reputable firm with flexibility, strong remuneration, and most importantly, a place where you will feel like a valued member of a team, this could be the firm for you.

The Role

Working with this highly respected national Planning team, you will gain exposure to exciting and innovative work with a diverse range of clients, supporting large-scale projects that are at the forefront of development in the UK.

You will be taking a lead role with supporting partners in the Planning practice to deliver major energy & infrastructure and development projects, development consent orders (DCO), compulsory purchase and compensation matters, planning applications and appeals, s36 consents, marine licences, EIA and HRA, public local inquiries, roads law matters, judicial review, asset protection matters, and some major real estate and energy/infrastructure transactions.

The work you will be involved in will reshape the face of the UK for generations to come and is vital to transforming and modernising the landscape for sustainable and productive use.
With renowned colleagues, you will have the opportunity to develop your technical and client relation skills while helping to cement the company's reputation as a leader in the Planning sector.

By taking a lead on projects, developing new business and receiving continuous and ongoing professional development support, you will be in an enviable position to develop market-leading expertise and take a significant and exciting step forward in your career.

The Ideal Candidate

• Is an ambitious solicitor with 3+ PQE in Planning
• Experience in relevant planning legislation (e.g. Town & Country Planning Act)
• Previous work with compulsory acquisitions, compensation matters, EIA/HRA, and judicial review is ideal
• Ability to manage complex and varied workloads efficiently to the highest standard
• Excellent verbal/written communicator with first-rate interpersonal skills
• Has a proactive, innovative, and value-adding mindset

What's on offer

• Working for a Top 50 and multi-award-winning firm of significant prestige
• An opportunity to develop a revered reputation in the Planning practice area
• Exposure to top-tier clients and high-quality/high-value work
• First-rate career development opportunities
• Excellent salary
• Excellent benefits package and well-being considerations

Apply now for immediate consideration or contact Ralph Dowds at 0161 240 3763/ ralph@jmc-legal.com for a confidential chat.