Associate or Principal Associate

Weightmans is a Top 45 law firm with offices throughout the UK. Having been recognised as the leading legal employer at the annual Britain's Top Employers awards 2019 and achieved record rankings in Chambers UK, we are immensely proud of the work we carry out for our clients and the culture we provide to our people.

The Planning team at Weightmans continues to go from strength to strength. Due to the number of large exciting projects in the pipeline there is a need to recruit an additional specialist planning solicitor to the team. The team currently handles a large variety of high quality work for both private and public sector clients.

Examples of the type of work the team is currently advising in connection with:

•Various strategic residential and New Town projects – advising on all planning aspects, including advising on a new garden town which is to comprise 23,000 dwellings and major infrastructure

•Promoting over 10 major CPO projects, including various major highways CPO’s

•DCO’s and Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects – including Mersey Tidal energy project

•Judicial review challenges

•Day to day planning advisory work for clients and infrastructure agreements

•The national team works collaboratively across offices, undertaking high quality work in a supportive environment

Main duties and responsibilities:

• Work collaboratively with members of the Planning team and wider firm to meet client needs, providing clients with commercially focussed planning advice and guidance. The role is likely to involve some travel in view the projects we undertake
• To have conduct of various matters and work as part of the team on larger projects
• Help support growth for the Planning practice both nationally and in the relevant location
• Work in accordance with Weightmans’ values

This list is not intended to be exhaustive and you will be expected to perform other duties and have other responsibilities that fall within the wider remit of the role.

• Qualified solicitor
• At least 3 years’ post qualification experience in Planning law
• The ideal candidate will have some private practice experience and good experience on CPO matters
• Technically strong and good communication skills
• Excellent time management and organisation skills
• A team player, who has the ability to work as part of a team and on own initiative
• Flexible approach
• The role is ideally based in our Leeds office but we will also consider candidates for Manchester. The firm supports and encourages flexible working arrangements

Please note:

• Any reference to experience or PQE in our adverts or job descriptions is to be used as a guideline only. We welcome applicants from all backgrounds and with different levels of experience who can demonstrate that they fulfil the requirements of the role.

• The successful candidate appointed to this role will be subject to our standard background checking process, and any offer of employment made is conditional upon successful completion of those checks. Further details can be obtained from the Recruitment team.