Senior Lawyer – Property Law Team

Salary: £50,409 plus an additional Market Forces Factor payment of £5,250 pa

Location: Birmingham, Bristol, Exeter, Peterborough, Leeds or Reading

Post Type: Permanent

Working Pattern: Full Time, Part Time

Job Reference: 29429

Senior Lawyers in the Property Law team provide specialist property law advice on a wide range of fascinating property related work including large strategic projects, commercial property, sustainability, net zero, biodiversity net gain and the Government’s Land Strategy as well as advising on transactional property law work. This will typically include title due diligence, for the acquisition of land and interests, drafting and negotiating licences, options, transfers, easements and leases necessary for the Environment Agency to operate.

It is anticipated that the post holder will work generally across the Property Law Team with the opportunity to advise on the development of key national flood defence projects and commercial acquisition/disposal as well as supporting other Legal Services colleagues across a broad range of property related work. We welcome candidates with a diverse range of experiences and backgrounds who bring with them skills in these areas or other transferable skills.

You will manage your own caseload and will be responsible for accurate and timely legal advice to the Environment Agency.

Your work will support the Environment Agency in furthering its objectives to protect and enhance the environment. You will be helping to deliver the Environment Agency’s Action Plan (EA2025 creating a better place) and the Government’s 25 Year Environment Plan.

You will work in an organisation that aspires for inclusivity in our workforce and an organisation that embraces equal opportunities and flexible working arrangements, ensuring everyone can contribute and succeed.

The Property Law Team consists of 11 lawyers, 2 paralegals and three Team Leaders, currently adopting a hybrid work model combining home and office arrangements.

Skills and Experience

You will be a Qualified Solicitor or Chartered Legal Executive with at least 5 Years post-qualification experience. You must have current rights to practice law in England and Wales.

You will have:

• Excellent grounding in property law with a track record of handling complex legal and technical issues.
• Willingness and aptitude to rapidly grasp and adapt to new legal issues, demonstrating confidence and agility.
• Excellent relationship-building skills, gaining client trust and understanding their objectives.
• Drive and perseverance to problem solve.
• Experience of supervising and supporting junior team members.
• Ability to write clear legal briefings for use at director/board/government level and to compose correspondence in response to challenging external questions.
• Strong influencing and persuasive abilities, capable of engaging and convincing individuals at all levels, including organisational leaders.
• Preferred experience in agricultural law, contentious landlord and tenant or large infrastructure projects with exposure to CPO/DCO processes.

Contact and Additional Information

• This is a full-time role, 37 hours per week. There may be the option for flexible and/or part-time working upon request.
• 27 days holiday + bank holidays for full-time employees or equivalent, depending on working pattern.
• We also offer up to two days paid environmental outcome days each year. These give you the opportunity to take part in community activities with a clear environmental outcome.
• We have a generous career average pension scheme, which means you will build up benefits based on your pay each scheme year rather than your final salary.
• Whilst you are in the pension scheme we will also pay an employer contribution. We currently pay 19%, so this is a very generous scheme.
• For further information, please email LASrecruitment@environment-agency.gov.uk.  

Closing date: 15 September 2024.