Your new company

A large local authority is seeking an experienced Principal Lawyer (Planning & Property) to join its in‑house Legal Services team on an initial 3‑month rolling contract. The organisation is managing a busy portfolio of planning, property and regeneration matters and requires immediate senior legal leadership to support service delivery. This is an agency assignment with the potential for extension.

Your new role

Reporting to the Head of Legal Services, you will act as the technical legal lead for planning and property matters, providing senior‑level advice in a politically sensitive environment. You will also play a key role in maintaining service continuity, supporting the development of the team and improving existing legal processes.
You will be responsible for:

• Acting as the technical legal lead on planning, development control, property, regeneration and related work

• Managing a complex personal caseload while overseeing the allocation of work across the team

• Line‑managing two Senior Lawyers and one Lawyer, providing clear direction and hands‑on supervision

• Reviewing, improving and updating legal processes and ways of working to support service efficiency

• Advising elected members, committees and senior officers on high‑risk and high‑profile matters

• Attending committee meetings and court hearings where required

• Managing external counsel and key stakeholder relationships

• Supporting the Head of Legal Services during a period of operational demand
  
  This is a senior interim role requiring someone who can add value immediately with minimal handover.
  
  

What you'll need to succeed

To succeed in this role, you will be a qualified solicitor, barrister or Chartered Legal Executive with significant post‑qualification experience (5+ years as a guideline), including strong local government or public‑sector experience. An established background in planning and/or property law is essential, as is proven experience of managing and supervising lawyers.
You will also bring:

• Experience advising at committee and senior‑officer level

• A pragmatic, solution‑focused approach to public‑sector legal risk

• Confidence operating in a fast‑paced, politically led organisation

• Strong leadership, communication and stakeholder‑management skills
  
  

What you'll get in return

• £70–£75 per hour (umbrella)

• Initial 3‑month rolling contract with extension potential

• ASAP start

• Hybrid working, with 1–2 days per week on site, depending on team needs

• A high‑impact interim role within a senior in‑house public‑sector legal team
  
  

What you need to do now

If you're interested in this role, click 'apply now' to forward an up-to-date copy of your CV, or call us now.

If this job isn't quite right for you, but you are looking for a new position, please contact us for a confidential discussion about your career.