15 x Planning Lawyer

Job summary

At the Government Legal Department we have a vital, single-minded purpose: to help the Government govern well within the rule of law. This is complemented by our exciting vision to be an outstanding legal organisation, committed to the highest standards of service and professionalism and a brilliant place to work where we can all thrive and fulfill our potential. Our work touches almost every aspect of public life. We are the largest provider of legal services across government, working on high profile matters. Our respected professionals are involved in everything from regulation and litigation to advice on drafting legislation. They provide expertise to the full range of government departments. We are at the heart of delivering the government’s priorities and our success depends on our people.

GLD is a non-ministerial government department headed by the Treasury Solicitor, our Permanent Secretary, and employs nearly 4000 people, including nearly 3000 legal professionals. We have offices nationwide, in Bristol, Leeds, inner and outer London and Manchester. Our lawyers can also be located within other departments and overseas. GLD also depends on a range of cross-functional professionals to provide our corporate services. There are nearly 1000 colleagues playing an essential part in helping GLD to achieve its purpose and truly deliver much more than law.

This is an exciting time to join GLD, with cutting edge legal work on global issues and a transformation agenda which is ensuring the Department exemplifies the Modern Civil Service.

To find out more about what we do you can view our introductory film. On our website you can hear from team members, find out how to apply and learn about the benefits of working for GLD. You can also read more about the future vision for GLD in our GLD Strategy 2024 – 2027.

Job description

GLD are currently recruiting for 15 planning lawyers, to support high profile and highly topical work across multiple planning legal teams across government. Below you will find details of the Teams that have roles available.

MHCLG Legal Advisors

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) is dedicated to changing and improving lives in the UK. MHCLG is responsible for policies on planning, housing, building safety, community integration and regeneration, elections and local government. The Department has an ambitious agenda to drive up housing supply, increase home ownership, devolve powers and budgets to boost local growth and to support strong public services.

MHCLG Legal is a GLD Advisory Directorate, with around 170 lawyers, based in London, Croydon, Bristol, Leeds and Manchester. The directorate advises policy teams within MHCLG on matters ranging from the development and drafting of new legislation (Bills and Statutory Instruments) to areas of policy and operational delivery.

We are looking for lawyers to play a pivotal role in delivering some of the government’s most ambitious objectives this Parliament, including:

• Building 1.5 million homes to tackle the housing crisis,
• Creating at least three new towns, with scope for more.
• Driving environmental reform to streamline obligations while improving environmental outcomes.

There are two friendly and welcoming Deputy Director led Planning Divisions with 39 lawyers sitting within 11 subject-led mini-teams.

The Planning Divisions work on a range of high-profile and fascinating matters at the interface of planning and public law. The teams work closely with policy officials and with others across Government to reform and develop planning policy and legislation and have recently taken the Planning and Infrastructure Act through Parliament. The range of fascinating work available provides the opportunity to hone key advisory skills, advising on core public law principles.

The Divisions advise in particular on Developer Contributions (e.g. Community Infrastructure Levy and Section 106), Local Plans, Development Corporations, Environmental Assessment (e.g. Environmental Impact Assessment, Strategic Environmental Assessment, Habitats, Aarhus, Environmental Outcome Reports), Compulsory Purchase, the Planning Act 2008 (Nationally Significant Instructure Projects), Development Management including permitted development, New Towns, Planning decisions taken by the Secretary of State, changes to the National Planning Policy Framework and National Development Management Policies and Biodiversity Net Gain.

Planning is a litigious area and lawyers in the Planning Divisions work closely with colleagues in GLD Litigation on judicial reviews and statutory appeals. Lawyers in the Planning Division also have the opportunity to work with other lawyers across the Directorate where planning interfaces with other policies such as the delivery of housing and building safety. Lawyers in the Division also work with lawyers in other GLD Directorates such as DEFRA, DFT and DESNZ to jointly deliver on Government priorities such as setting up the Nature Recovery Fund and changes to streamline the Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project system.

DEFRA Legal Advisors

Defra Legal Advisers (DLA) provides legal advice to the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. Defra is responsible for safeguarding our natural environment, supporting our world-leading food and farming industry and sustaining a thriving rural economy.

The wide remit means the legal division is involved in a diverse range of activity providing legal advice across the full range of Defra’s domestic and international business, including the natural environment, animal welfare, food, farming and fisheries. Defra’s work has a strong international context and our lawyers support numerous international negotiations, as well as advising on the development of domestic legislation. The Division comprises around 180 staff based in 2 Marsham Street, London SW1 and GLD offices in Bristol, Leeds and Manchester. It has 8 legal teams and a business management team. We are a dynamic, nurturing and high performing division, with a strong emphasis on collaborative working.

DfT Legal Advisors

DfTLA is the in-house legal team at the heart of the Department for Transport’s mission to “Connect People and Places”. With more than 180 lawyers across 12 teams, we provide strategic, high-quality legal advice on some of the UK’s most complex and high-profile transport issues. Our work spans public and regulatory law, major infrastructure projects, commercial arrangements, and extensive legislative drafting—including Bills and one of the largest statutory instrument programmes in government. We enable delivery of the Government’s priorities: rail reform, improved bus usage, greener transport, and better integration of networks nationwide. Our lawyers advise on projects such as HS2, East West Rail, smart motorways and legislation for aviation, maritime and roads. We also support the UK’s international transport obligations through treaty work and global negotiations. This is an opportunity to join a dynamic, influential legal directorate shaping the future of transport in the UK.

The work ranges from legal support on planning consent applications for large transport infrastructure projects working with other government departments on transport related planning reforms to legislation, primary or secondary and guidance. The work is planning and environmentally focussed. The team also provides advisory support on litigation. We are therefore seeking lawyers with experience in planning law, whether national or local, and environment law to help contribute to the work of the Department.

DESNZ Legal Advisors

We advise the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ), together with a number of its Partner Organisations. We are focused on providing legal advice on the UK’s ambitious and innovative energy portfolio, with work spanning policies on decarbonisation technologies, nuclear power, clean energy and heat, energy efficiency, combatting fuel poverty, energy security, energy networks, infrastructure, planning, international energy commitments, climate change and net zero obligations. With DESNZ leading on one of the government's five missions to "make Britain a clean energy superpower " our work is more in the spotlight than ever before. In record time we have brought forward the Great British Energy Bill, published the Clean Power 2030 Action Plan and are pursuing an ambitious programme of primary legislation.

DESNZ Legal is a GLD Advisory Directorate with around 130 people. DESNZ Legal is led by Wendy Hardaker (Legal Director), who is based in Manchester, and comprises eight Deputy Director led client-facing teams, one of which deals with Energy Planning and Infrastructure.

“The work we do is of the highest profile and some of the most important legal work being done right now in Government. Energy security and net zero have never been more important as we grapple as a nation with balancing our energy security needs against the need to protect our planet for future generations. At the forefront of that work is energy planning casework and planning reform of nationally significant infrastructure for large scale energy projects.

I became a government lawyer to be involved in the sort of work we do in this Directorate. Our work is never dull and always high profile and at the forefront of Government policy. It is a privilege to lead such a high performing and brilliant Directorate.

DESNZ provides legal support on national planning casework and energy related planning policy development. The work ranges from legal support on planning consent applications for large energy infrastructure projects and overhead powerlines to working with other government departments on planning reforms to legislation, primary or secondary and guidance. The work is planning and environmentally focussed, delivered against the backdrop of government commitments to decarbonise by 2030 and Net Zero.

The team also provides to the work of the advisory support on litigation. We are therefore seeking lawyers with experience in planning law, whether national or local, to help contribute to the work of the Department”.

(Wendy Hardaker, DESNZ Legal Director)

GLD Litigation

GLD’s Litigation Directorate is structured into 4 divisions. The relevant team Planning and Infrastructure Projects Team, sits within the Justice and Development Division. The team has around 30 people, based predominantly at 102 Petty France, London, with growing numbers in Leeds and potentially in other GLD office locations. The team represents DESNZ, DLUHC, DEFRA, DfT as well as other government bodies in a range of public law planning related challenges.

The work of the team is extremely varied and covers the full range of public law planning litigation. The team works on high profile judicial review challenges against decisions in respect of infrastructure projects (for example airport expansion or nuclear power station consent orders) and called in matters. In addition, the team acts for the Planning Inspectorate in respect of statutory reviews.

We are looking to appoint in the region of 10 posts are offered within the planning divisions of MHCLG, DfT, DEFRA Legal Advisers and GLD Litigation.

The planning divisions seek specialist planning lawyers with a good understanding of public law. Within the planning context, you will advise on issues such as conflicts of interest, legitimate expectations, devolution, data protection, Freedom of Information, discrimination and equalities, the Public sector Equality Duty and the Environmental principles Duty. You need a sound understanding of the role of lawyers in government and the capability to develop in-depth advising to the highest standards.

You will be based in either an advisory directorate (MHCLG, DEFRA or DFT legal advisors) or the litigation directorate and you will also be joining a cross-departmental community of planning lawyers, affording the opportunity to collaborate with other GLD lawyers through the Planning Lawyers Network. As government lawyers, GLD planning lawyers are expected to advise on public law issues, and the precise mix varies from time to time. In the longer term you will have the opportunity to develop your career either within the specialist planning area (by moving to another part of government) or within the wider and more varied range of public law careers that GLD can offer.

Advisory Lawyers

The work of advisory lawyers is fast paced, extremely varied and always

stretching and interesting. The work involves a highly diverse range of

activity, including:

• providing legal advice, particularly planning, environmental and public
• law advice, to Ministers and officials across the relevant portfolio;
• involvement in legislation, working closely with policy leads and
• Parliamentary Counsel, as well as advising Ministers throughout a Bill’s
• passage through Parliament;
• drafting secondary legislation;
• providing advisory support in legal challenges; and
• advising on all aspects of legal risk

Litigation lawyers

The planning litigation roles will be based in GLD’s Litigation Directorate, in the Planning and Infrastructure Projects Team. The work of litigation lawyers is fast paced, extremely varied and always stretching and interesting. Our litigators gain early responsibility for their own caseload within a supportive team environment, working in mini teams led by senior lawyers, who provide support and guidance as needed. The team works alongside counsel from the Attorney General’s Panels, frequently with KCs, and are often engaged in briefing seniors in GLD about ongoing matters.

The team also play a crucial co-ordination role when litigation involves several Government Departments. Lawyers work closely with policy colleagues and advisory legal colleagues in client Departments to advise on litigation risk and to develop realistic contingency plans when the litigation risk materialises. The work involves a highly diverse range of activity, including:

• Providing legal advice, particularly planning, environmental and public law
• Advise ministers and officials across the relevant client portfolios in the context of litigation; and Strategic litigation support to policy officials, Ministers and advisory colleagues in legal challenges, preparing cases and attending court when necessary.
• Representing clients in court, with counsel, and taking all necessary steps to ensure matters are run effectively, and in accordance with our Lexcel accredited policies
• There are opportunities to provide training both within GLD and to clients
• The Litigation Directorate offers a wide range of training opportunities, in addition to GLD wide training to support development and legal knowledge.

We will be holding a candidate information session for these roles on Microsoft Teams from 5:00 pm – 6:00pm on 14thApril2026

Candidates will have the opportunity to hear from Lawyers working within MHCLG , about what they do and their experiences working for government. There will also be an opportunity to ask questions about the role.

If you are interested in further information on this role please join the link below:

Microsoft Teams meeting Join: https://teams.microsoft.com/meet/39142932240158?p=37jIb7HsjKmbGEcnyl

Meeting ID: 391 429 322 401 58

Passcode: MR3uc36s

Person specification

Behaviours

Below are details of the Success Profiles that make up this role. Demonstrating all the behaviours listed below is essential at either application or interview. You can read more about Success Profiles and how they are used as an assessment method before completing your application.

We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:

• Communicating and Influencing
• Working Together
• Managing a Quality Service

Experience Essential - must be demonstrated at application and interview

• Specialist experience in planning law.

Desirable

Desirable criteria will be used when there is a need to distinguish between candidates who are closely tied or the same after the initial consideration of essential criteria, at sift and interview.

• Advisory experience, obtained by working in-house, whether private company or public body, regulator, non-governmental organisations etc
• Experience in environmental law.
• Experience in planning or environmental litigation

Technical Legal Skills (Lead Criteria)

Essential - must be demonstrated at application and interview

• Good knowledge, understanding and experience of planning/Infrastructure planning law.
• Sound understanding of public law.
• Reliable legal judgement and appreciation of legal risk.
• The ability to think strategically and creatively, see legal issues in their wider context and advise accordingly.
• Sound analysis, using secure legal research to produce timely and fit for purpose advice.
• The ability to communicate advice effectively both in writing and orally.
• Good understanding of the role of lawyers in government.

Motivation fit – Essential

We need to know how well our requirements and offerings match your aspirations. Please outline why you are motivated to join the Government Legal Department and how you feel you might contribute effectively to a role within GLD.

If you have a preference of which team you would like to be appointed to you will be given an opportunity to state this at the end of your interview, we will then confirm this with you if you are successful at interview. Please be advised we cannot guarantee you will be appointed to your preferred team as we will be considering this on the basis of business need.

Security Clearance Level

All GLD employees must hold BPSS security clearance. If successful for this post you must hold, or be willing and able to obtain, CTC level clearance for roles based in any of our London offices. You can start your position while getting this clearance level. If London based you will need to work from an alternative office in Corydon until clearance is gained. More information can be found about the vetting and clearance levelsbefore completing your application.

Sponsorship and Visas

There is the possibility that GLD can provide sponsorship for skilled workers, as long as they meet the eligibility criteria set down under current immigration legislation. GLD does not guarantee sponsorshipwill be provided or that an applicant will be successful in gaining a skilled worker visa.

It is the responsibility of the applicant to ensure that they meet the criteria for sponsorship. They also have the responsibility to notify the Resourcing Team that they require Sponsorship at the start of the onboarding process into GLD. This applies to existing civil servants as well as external candidates.

Qualifications

Academic and Professional
Applicants should have a minimum of a 2:1 honours degree in their first degree (in any subject). Where an applicant holds an overseas degree qualification this should be equivalent to a 2.1 degree. GLD will consider applicants who do not have a 2.1 degree but only where satisfactory evidence of equivalent high level academic and/or professional achievement can be provided (e.g. via relevant experience and results achieved for the Graduate Diploma in Law (GDL)/CPE, Legal Practice Course (LPC), Bar Professional Training Course (BPTC)).
Applicants must be qualified to practise as a Solicitor, Barrister or Chartered Legal Executive in England and Wales however, we also accept applications from overseas qualified candidates. You must have completed a training contract/pupillage/qualifying employment or have been exempted from this by the Law Society, the Bar Council or CILEx.
Please note that candidates cannot apply more than 3 months before their qualification date.
Professional entry criteria for Chartered Legal Executives (i.e. Fellows): Chartered Legal Executives are eligible to apply where (i) a Qualifying Law Degree (QLD) is held; or (ii) the Graduate Diploma in Law (GDL)/CPE has been completed; or (iii) where exams have been passed(i.e. a score of 50% or above achieved), at CILEx Level 6*, in all of the following seven foundation subjects in law:
Contract Law
Criminal Law
Equity and Trusts Law
European Union Law
Land Law
Public Law
Law of Tort
*Note: There are specific requirements relating to academic achievement in the CILEx Level 6 exams where these are being used to demonstrate 2.1 degree equivalence as set out below.
Chartered Legal Executives should note that GLD will be willing to accept an, overall, average score of 65% or above across exams passed in the seven foundation subjects in law (where studied at CILEx Level 6) as demonstrating 2.1 degree equivalence (where a 2.1 degree is not held).

Behaviours

We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:

• Communicating and Influencing
• Working Together
• Managing a Quality Service

Technical skills

We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:

• Technical skills- Written assessment

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £61,124, Government Legal Department contributes £17,707 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

• Learning and development tailored to your role
• An environment with flexible working options
• A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity
• A Civil Service pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%

Learning and Development at GLD

GLD has a comprehensive learning and development offer for all employees.

We offer a programme of in-person/hybrid and virtual sessions providing learning on profession-specific, soft skills, technical skills, and different topics. We also support colleagues through a range of different professional qualifications.

As the lead for the Government Legal Profession, we offer a tailored programme of development for all Legal Professionals joining the organisation through our Government Legal Training Programme and

Legal Learning Framework, which includes:

• Foundation pathway, to support colleagues in their first 12 months
• Practitioner pathways for colleagues in four core areas of work
• Core Curriculum

We also offer a 2+2 scheme for newly qualified lawyers to gain a broader idea and understanding of the range of work available as a government lawyer. Alongside this we support all Professions with building their careers and capability aligning with the wider Civil Service offerings for each Profession. There are also talent and development opportunities offered throughout the year these include:

• Senior Leaders and Future Leaders Schemes – cross Civil Service accelerated development schemes.
• Beyond Boundaries – cross government development programme designed to help participants develop the knowledge, skills and networks required to build a satisfying and effective career in the Civil Service.
• Mentoring and Coaching – we encourage all colleagues to share their knowledge, capability, and experience.

Things you need to know

Artificial intelligence

Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance (opens in a new window) for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.

Selection process details

This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours, Strengths, Experience and Technical skills.

Application

To apply for this post you will need to complete the online application on Civil Service Jobs, searching the reference below. The deadline for this application is 20th April 2026at 12:00 midday.

In your application you will be assessed on the following:

1.An online CV setting out your career history, with key responsibilities and achievements. Please ensure you have provided reasons for any gaps within the last two years, as part of the online application form. This will be used to assess Experience. The CV will be scored.

2.A statement of suitability of no more than 1000 words, providing evidence of your suitability for the role, with particular reference to the Technical Legal Skills (Lead criteria) (maximum 750 words), and Motivational Fit Criteria (maximum 250 words) as outlined in the person specification.

Please ensure the Statement of Suitability has a subheading for Technical Legal Skills (lead) Criteria and a subheading for Motivational Fit Criteria. Failure to do so will result in your application not being considered.

Application Errors

Please take extra care to tick the correct boxes in the eligibility sections of your application form. We understand mistakes sometimes happen but if you contact us later than two working days (Monday-Friday) before the vacancy closes, we will not be able to reopen your application for you. If you do make a mistake with your eligibility form, please contact us via: activecampaigns@governmentlegal.gov.uk . Use the subject line to insert appropriate wording for example – ‘Please re-open my application – [insert vacancy ref] & vacancy closing date [insert date]’.

Selection Process

After the closing date, the appointing panel shall assess candidates’ suitability for the role based on evidence provided in their application against the behaviours and experience outlined in the person specification.

If there are a large number of applications the panel will conduct a staged sift. The initial sift will be on CV alone, assessing experience. If you meet the minimum criteria for the CV you will then progress to the full sift on your statement of suitability.

In the eventuality that there are a high number of applicants successful at sift, GLD may operate a longlist, whereby applicants who have been shortlisted and met the minimum pass mark but are not selected for interview will have their application placed on hold. After the initial interview round candidates on the longlist may be offered an interview, should there still be posts available.

Written Exercise

As part of the application process you will be asked to complete a written exercise if you are successful at sift stage. This will be one week before your interview and you will be provided with further information which will give you sufficient time to prepare. The written exercise will assess technical legal skills and the behaviours of Communicating and influencing and managing a quality service.

Interview

If you are invited to interview, you will be assessed on your performance in the criteria listed in the Person Specification, behaviour and strength-based questions. These criteria are:

• Behaviour: Communicating and Influencing
• Behaviour: Working Together
• Behaviour: Managing a Quality Service
• Technical Legal Skills
• Motivational Fit

During your interview you will be asked to present your work based on your written exercise, we may also ask follow up questions, to assess your technical legal skills and the behaviours of communicating and influencing and managing a quality service.

Your interview will take place online.

Offer

The timeline later in this pack indicates the date by which decisions are expected to be made, and all shortlisted candidates will be advised of the outcome as soon as possible thereafter.

All communications regarding your application will be made through Civil Service Jobs.

All candidates will be notified of the outcome as soon as possible after the interview. Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview.

We appoint in strict order of merit. If you meet the minimum criteria for this position but are not successful for a post, you will be placed on the reserve list. We may contact you to see if you are interested in a post at the same, or a lower grade, in GLD should one arise.

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.People working with government assets must complete