Specialist Lawyer (Planning)

Why Southwark?

Are you ready to bring your planning law expertise somewhere it will truly matter? At Southwark Council, we’re rewriting the future of our borough and we want a legal mind who’s as sharp, confident, and dynamic as the developments transforming our skyline.

If you thrive in legal complexity, love offering crisp, strategic advice, and want your work to leave a visible mark on London, this could be your career move.

Here’s why this role stands out:

• Be the legal force behind some of London’s boldest regeneration projects, from riverfront transformations to the renewal of iconic communities like Elephant and Castle, Peckham, and Canada Water.
• Work at the heart of powerand influence directly advising Cabinet Members, committees, council leaders, and senior officers on high-impact planning decisions.
• Shape the legal strategy of a borough that doesn’t just follow policy, it sets it, driving innovation, good governance, and future-focused decision-making.

What You'll Be Doing

Your Mission

• Deliver expert, specialist advice on planning law across a varied and high-profile portfolio.
• Ensure robust governance by supporting clear, transparent, and legally sound decision-making.
• Influence and contribute to the Corporate Delivery Plan, aligning legal strategy with Southwark’s long-term ambitions.

Lead With Purpose

• Inspire and guide a team of legal professionals (where required), championing excellence and responsiveness.
• Collaborate with Cabinet, committees, steering groups, and senior stakeholders to provide legally grounded, forward-thinking insight.
• Act as a subject matter expert on complex and sensitive legal matters, ensuring our planning ambitions are achieved with confidence and clarity.

What We're Looking For

We need a dynamic and experienced Planning Lawyer who is passionate about public service and driven to make a difference who will bring a blend of the following:

• A proven track record as a qualified solicitor, barrister (with a current practising certificate), or FILEX, delivering high-quality legal outcomes.
• Demonstrable impact in supporting and achieving strategic planning objectives.
• Practical experience in property law ideally in a local government setting.
• Strong knowledge of property & regeneration law, commercial contracts, litigation, judicial review, and ADR.
• Confidence managing a diverse caseload independently.
• Exceptional attention to detail, operating effectively in a fast-paced environment with competing priorities.
• A basic DBS certificate is required.
• Flexibility to blend home working with on-site collaboration at our vibrant London Bridge HQ.

Additional Information

About Southwark Council

Southwark Council is the largest local authority social landlord in London, managing 55,000 homes lived in by 40% of Southwark’s residents. We are home to over 18,300 businesses including iconic London venues such as The Shard, The Tate Modern and Borough Market along with many social enterprises and we have a young, diverse, and growing population.

At Southwark we are committed to making our borough just and fair and are taking positive action to tackle inequalities. Our residents and communities are our greatest asset and the passion we have for Southwark is shared by millions of Londoners who enjoy our outstanding cultural offer, use our hospitals and attend our universities.

Our refreshed borough plan and focus on Southwark Stands Together, (which is our work with Southwark’s communities and the council’s staff to tackle racism, injustice and inequality) underpins all that we do.

Benefits and more information:

https://jobs.southwark.gov.uk/why-us/

Salary Range: £59,526 - £74,040 + JNC Benefit of £2724

Recruitment timetable

Application Closing Date: 11.59pm on the 23rd of January 2026

Interview Date: Week commencing the 5th of February 2026

We are an organisation who is passionate about our people and understands that richness of diversity is a requirement to provide the best possible services to our communities.

This is demonstrated through our council-wide ambitious commitment to tackle racial inequality in our communities and workforce through our Southwark Stands Together initiative.

We particularly welcome applications from members of the black, Asian and ethnic minority communities to increase representation at senior management level in the Council.

Guaranteed Interview Scheme

As part of our commitment to inclusion, we offer guaranteed interviews for specific groups of people. To qualify, you'll need to meet the minimum requirements for the role, and identify with one of the below criteria:

• Members of the Armed Forces and veterans
• Are currently in care, or have previously been in care
• If you consider yourself to be disabled or if you have a long-term health condition.

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Attachments

• Job Description & Person Specification