Planning Lawyer - Central Government

Role: Planning Lawyer REF 104867
Contract Length: 6 months
Location: Hybrid/London - 60% onsite
IR35: Inside
Pay Rate to Intermediary: £44.78 per hour
Security Clearance: BPSS
Spinwell is recruiting for a Planning Lawyer for an excellent opportunity within the public sector.

RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE PLANNING LAWYER

• Provide pragmatic, risk-based legal advice on planning, environmental, and public law matters.
• Advise on major infrastructure and development projects, including energy, transport, and regeneration schemes.
• Support policy development and legislative change, including secondary legislation drafting.
• Assess and advise on judicial review risk and litigation strategy.
• Collaborate closely with policy officials and stakeholders across government.
• Deliver clear, commercially focused advice within a fast-paced and high-profile environment.

SKILLS/EXPERIENCE OF THE PLANNING LAWYER

• Qualified Solicitor (via LPC or SQE route) or Barrister.
• Strong planning law experience gained within private practice, public sector, or equivalent environments.
• Experience supporting infrastructure projects, major developments, or complex planning matters.
• Knowledge of environmental law, Environmental Impact Assessments (EIA), and associated regulatory frameworks.
• Experience advising on or supporting judicial review and contentious matters.
• Ability to provide practical, commercially aware legal advice.
• Excellent analytical, communication, and stakeholder management skills.
• Have worked on complex, high-value development or infrastructure projects.
• Understand how planning decisions are challenged, reviewed, and defended.
• Are comfortable operating within a policy-driven and politically sensitive environment.
• Can provide clear and pragmatic advice under pressure.
• Have broad planning and infrastructure experience rather than a narrow specialist focus.

We welcome all applications regardless of background, in line with our commitment to diversity, equality and inclusion.

Disability Confident

As a member of the disability confident scheme, the client guarantees to interview all candidates who have a disability and who meet all the essential criteria for the vacancy. In cases where we have a high volume of candidates who have a disability who meet all the essential criteria, we will interview the best candidates from within that group.

Armed Forces Covenant

The client is proud to support the Armed Forces Covenant and as such, we guarantee to interview all veterans or spouses / partners of military personnel who meet all the essential criteria for the vacancy. In cases where we have a high volume of ex-military candidates / military spouses or partners, who meet all of the essential criteria, we will interview the best candidates from within that group.

We will be in touch to discuss your suitability and arrange your Guaranteed Interview.

Should you require reasonable adjustments at any point during the recruitment process or if there is a more accessible way for us to communicate, please do let us know.

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