Make an impact where it matters

We’re looking for an experienced Senior Lawyer specialising in Planning to join our highly regarded shared service providing legal services and advice to Swale, Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells Borough Councils.

The service covers a range of areas including Property and Regeneration, Planning, Contentious, Contracts & Commissioning and Corporate Governance. Working across multiple councils means a range of high-level, challenging and impactful work. This is more than a legal role—it’s your opportunity to shape communities.

Why join MKLS?

Mid Kent Legal Services is a forward-thinking, innovative shared service, known for delivering high-quality legal support across three ambitious local authorities.

We offer:

High-profile, varied work you won’t find in most private practice roles
A supportive, collaborative team culture
Real opportunities for personal and professional development
Smart use of technology to maximise your time and impact
A genuine commitment to flexibility and wellbeing

About the role

As a Senior Lawyer (Planning), you will provide high-quality professional legal services and manage a caseload of complex planning matters across the three authorities of the shared service.

Your work will include:

Providing expert legal advice on planning matters including planning applications, enforcement, appeals and inquiries
Drafting and reviewing statutory agreements and associated documentation
Ensuring compliance with relevant legislation, regulations and case law
Contributing to policy development and strategic planning initiatives
Advising elected Members, committees and senior officers on planning law, policy and process

You will also play a key role in maintaining professional standards, including:

Supporting compliance with Lexcel and internal governance requirements
Supervising junior lawyers and support staff
Delivering training and briefings to Members and colleagues
Working collaboratively with internal and external stakeholders to ensure effective planning processes.

The role requires sound technical expertise combined with the ability to exercise professional judgement in a politically sensitive environment.

This is a full time role working 34 hours per week on a permanent contract. The role offers the benefit of hybrid working, combining the flexibility to work from home with office-based working on a business needs basis.

Our Offer

Local Government Pension Scheme
Generous annual leave + Christmas closure (with the option to buy additional annual leave)
Flexible working opportunities including:

Hybrid working
Compressed hours / 9-day fortnight / part-time options
34-hour full-time week (with early Friday finish)

Wellbeing support, counselling and healthcare initiatives

Staff benefits discounts on leisure, eating out, holidays and shopping

Salary sacrifice schemes (Cycle to Work, car leasing)
Free parking across partner authority sites

Why this role stands out

If you’re looking to move away from long hours and narrow specialism, this role offers:

High-quality, meaningful work
Greater work-life balance
The chance to influence communities at scale
A flexible and progressive working environment

About You

To be considered as our Senior Lawyer (Planning), you will need:

To be a qualified lawyer, solicitor, barrister, legal executive or have equivalent qualification and experience.
Post qualification legal practice experience in planning and development.
Experience with case management and legal research.
Supervisory experience in connection with planning casework.
Experience of Planning Appeals, court proceedings and legal document drafting.
Familiarity with statutory instruments, regulations, and guidance relating to local government planning and development law.
Experience in advising at Committees and operating in politically sensitive environments.

Other organisations may call this role Senior Legal Counsel, Lead Lawyer, Legal Services Manager, Solicitor, Barrister, Chartered Legal Executive, or Senior Legal Manager.

This is the ideal opportunity for an experienced planning lawyer with a track record of dealing with complex and often high profile planning agreements, providing high level legal advice and dealing with the complex issues arising from present day developments to join our forward-thinking shared service.

Please review the job description and person specification criteria for full details.

Selection Process

Following the submission of your application form, it will be reviewed by the recruiting manager. Those who are successful in securing an interview can expect a face-to-face interview at one of the offices of the shared service authorities.

Mid Kent Legal Services and Maidstone, Swale and Tunbridge Wells local authorities are equal opportunities employers, value diversity and are strongly committed to providing equal employment opportunities for all employees and all applicants for employment. Equal opportunities are the only acceptable way to conduct business, and we believe that the more inclusive our environments are, the better our work will be.

Are you interested?

For an informal discussion, please contact: Timothy Pyant, Interim Business Manager – 01622 602155

Interview Date: w/c 20th July 2026