We will offer flexibility where we can – if you are interested in a role, please speak to the recruiting manager about what flexibility they might consider.

Many of our colleagues can work from home for one or more days a week and/or they flex the hours they work. We call this SMART working, and it gives you the option to flex your days and hours so you can fit your work around your life and life around your work.

About the Role

Due to the recent expansion of the Council’s Corporate Governance team, we have an exciting opportunity for a Planning and Highways Lawyer to join the Council’s Litigation Team.

We are looking for an experienced Lawyer with the drive and determination to contribute to the team’s exciting vision.

The role is within the Legal Services Corporate Governance Team, which provides legal advice, assistance and representation to the Council, its Elected Members, its Officers, schools and other clients in a wide range of areas including planning law, criminal and civil law, regulatory law and enforcement, community safety, employment law and debt recovery.

The post holder will support stakeholders by providing specialist and proactive legal advice and assistance across a range of areas arising within the post holder’s area of responsibility including, but not limited to,:-

• Planning, including section 106 agreements, certificates of lawfulness, planning, planning enforcement and planning appeals
• Highways including section 38 Agreements, Traffic Orders and Tree Preservation Orders
• Environment including Housing, Building Control and Dangerous Buildings
• Local Government Law
• Data Protection

About you

The post holder will be a qualified solicitor, barrister, or Chartered Lawyer / Fellow of the Institute of Legal Executives holding a current practising certificate.

The post holder will have experience in one or more of the areas listed above and will be capable of:

• developing and advising on a wide range of high-level complex and sensitive work;
• representing Legal Services at committee meetings and other meetings of the Council and also represent the council’s interests with external organisations;
• supporting the Principal Solicitors, Monitoring Officer and Deputy Monitoring Officer as required;
• Possessing up-to-date knowledge in respect of national trends, policy, legislation, guidelines, initiatives and best practice in Legal and Local Government;
• ensuring that the service meets all its statutory requirements and responsibilities; and
• communicating and engaging with a wide range of stakeholders, building partnerships and productive working relationships to achieve shared objectives.

You will be an experienced advocate and litigator and will be able to prepare and conduct cases on behalf of the Council in the Magistrates, County and High Courts and before other Courts and Tribunals.

You’ll be skilled at providing concise and clear advice, and carrying out legal research and analysis. You will be well-organised and adaptable, as you may from time to time be asked to take on challenges outside your field of expertise.

You will need to have experience in drafting and will be skilled at drafting legal documentation. You will also possess commercial awareness and have a “can do” approach.

Your style and approach will reflect our values and behaviours. You will be committed to continually learning and improving the way you do things to ensure effective outcomes; valuing and respecting others’ contribution, you will work together to deliver service; you will take ownership of your actions and strive to getting things right first time and learn from when things do go wrong; you will enjoy taking personal responsibility to resolve issues and change what you do and how you do it to make a difference.

You will work closely with client departments across the whole of the Council. You will be involved in working with clients, elected members and committees as well as the Legal and Governance team more widely and you will therefore have good customer care and interpersonal skills, good communication and problem solving skills. You will work well as part of a team and be flexible, enthusiastic and committed.

Whilst experience working in a local authority environment is not essential, you must demonstrate an understanding of the political environment within which you would be operating.

About us

Trafford Council and its partners in the public, private and third sectors have a Vision which sees us working together to close inequality gaps and maximise Trafford’s huge potential.

Our vision: Trafford – where all our residents, businesses and communities thrive.

Trafford is a lively, prosperous place to put down roots and build a career. The council and Trafford schools employ around 8,000 people, who are central to making the area great. In return for their commitment, the council offers its employees development opportunities, as well as a fair and flexible workplace. The council is a Living Wage Employer.

Additional Information

Flexibility will be required to work outside core hours as the post holder will provide advice and guidance to elected members and will attend a range of committees and boards on a rota basis. This will require some attendances in the evenings.

You will have flexibility in terms of hybrid working at home and in the office.

Contact Details

For an informal discussion, or to find out more about the role, please email Sajal Lenahan at sajal.lenahan@trafford.gov.uk

About the benefits

You will be welcomed into a friendly environment where your personal and professional development will be encouraged. You will have the opportunity to work and grow in a people-centered and values-based organisation that promotes a positive permission culture. Your opinions matter so you will have the opportunity to shape how we do things here at Trafford.

Closing date: 23 November 2025

For further information or to apply, please click on the 'Enquire/Apply' button below.