Government Legal Specialists
Dynamic Collaboration in Public Interest
The Government Legal Department works closely with all main Whitehall departments to deliver top-notch legal services. Our work spans various aspects of public life, such as developing and drafting legislation, securing economic and trade relationships, providing legal advice on policies, and ensuring value from contracts.
We are currently looking for skilled Planning Lawyers to join our legal directorates and focus on work for the Department of Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ), the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA), the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG), and the Litigation Directorate.
Key Responsibilities
As a Planning Lawyer within the DESNZ team, you will contribute to providing legal support on national planning casework and energy-related planning policy development. Those working with the DEFRA directorate will provide expert advice on environmental law and policy intersecting with the planning regime.
Our MHCLG Planning Lawyers focus on planning policy, including changes to the NPPF, planning legislation, environmental law, and high-profile case work. MHCLG Planning Inspectorate Lawyers advise on nationally significant infrastructure projects and planning casework. If you join our Litigation Directorate, you'll provide counsel on planning, the environment, and public law to Ministers and other officials.
To succeed in this role, you must have a deep understanding of planning law, sound knowledge of public law, reliable legal judgment, and a good appreciation of legal risk. A strategic thinker with well-developed written and verbal communication skills, you will be capable of conducting thorough analysis and leveraging secure research to produce timely, effective advice.
Requirements and Qualifications
This position requires individuals with advisory experience, preferably gained through in-house work with private companies or public bodies. Experience in environmental law, planning litigation, or a combination of these areas is highly desirable.
Career Advancement and Personal Growth
The Government Legal Department encourages its employees to develop their skills in a caring and nurturing environment. Benefits include access to a valuable civil service pension and flexible working arrangements.
We aim to be an outstanding legal organization and a brilliant place to work where everyone can thrive and fulfill their potential. This is an exciting time for our department, with cutting-edge legal work on global issues and a transformation agenda that sets us apart as a modern civil service.