Solicitor/Senior Solicitor, Planning

Maclay Murray & Spens LLP is a full service, independent, commercial law firm offering legal solutions and advice to clients throughout the UK and beyond. Our objective is to provide a consistently excellent quality of service across our entire service range and from all our offices. We are an entrepreneurial and business driven firm, welcoming individuals from a wide range of backgrounds who can innovate, develop tailored solutions and work well within team environments.

We offer intelligent, ambitious and motivated people opportunities to develop their careers through involvement and responsibility. We invest in our employees’ futures as they build and further their careers, which is integral to the success of our business. We are an Investor in People accredited employer since 2000. We are committed to improving performance through the continuous training and development of our staff.

We also believe that work should not only be rewarding professionally. We encourage departments, teams and offices to meet on an informal basis. These are ideal opportunities for people to get to know one another socially. We also have a number of firm sports teams including netball and football in which we actively encourage people to partake.

The firm values the contribution that our legal and support staff make to the continuing success of the business. We appreciate that family and home life are important and we are flexible where we can be to accommodate our employees’ responsibilities outside of the office.

As a business with a long and successful history, we recognise our responsibility and debt to the communities in which we work. The firm has developed a Corporate Social Responsibility Policy covering a range of topics and practices designed to help us act as good corporate citizens. The firm encourages staff participation through our Staff Suggestion Scheme and is willing to take on board any suggestions that will enhance our current activities in this area.

The Planning and Environment Department
Our Planning team forms part of our wider Real Estate team and provides advice across our 4 UK offices. We act for a wide range of companies and are recognised by both the Legal 500 and Chambers' legal directories as being leading experts in this area of law.

The Role
We currently have an opportunity for a Planning Solicitor/Senior Solicitor to join our team in Edinburgh. This role involves a mix of contentious and non-contentious would and presents an ideal opportunity for a candidate who is looking to take the next step in their career.

Candidates will demonstrate the drive and enthusiasm necessary to ensure that we continue to deliver first class legal and commercial advice to our clients.

This role will cover  the full range of planning work – planning applications, appeals, public inquiries, hearings, judicial review, Section 75 and other legal planning agreements, compulsory purchase/compensation, planning due diligence and onshore renewable energy work. 

Key Tasks:

• To carry out client instructions and coordinate and liaise with specialist lawyers as required.
• To advise clients on legal aspects of transactions, delegating to junior lawyers and escalating to senior level as appropriate.
• To negotiate with other solicitors, escalating to senior level when necessary.
• To draft documentation and predominantly email correspondence to clients/other solicitors.
• To prioritise and deal with incoming, predominantly e-mail correspondence, from clients/other solicitors.
• To complete all necessary administration documentation, eg time recording.
• To draft fee notes, liaise with administrative support staff and support other fee earners as necessary
• To be proactive in relation to Business Development
• To promote the Maclay Murray & Spens corporate image at all external functions.

Core Skills and Knowledge:

• Candidates will ideally be 3-5 years PQE and must have demonstrable experience as a planning lawyer with a recognised planning law practice.
• Excellent interpersonal skills to ensure effective relationships are built.
  Proven ability to solve problems and deal with client matters.
• Good planning and organisational skills.
• Excellent drafting, written and oral communication skills, including presenting to small groups.
• Ability to present and deliver solutions.
• Ability to work on own initiative and develop tasks to the next level.

Core Competencies:

• Teamwork - Maintains productive and harmonious relationships within own team and across the firm to achieve objectives. Promotes team based working and shares knowledge.
• Communication - Communicates clearly, concisely and effectively, both verbally and in writing.
• Adaptability to change - Is receptive to changing requirements in the job and the firm. Adapts approach to meet new priorities and able to promote new ideas and improvements.
• Customer focus - Proactive in identifying and addressing the needs of clients and internal customers to ensure the delivery of valuable and efficient services.
• Problem Solving - Analyses problems and information, evaluates options and risks in order to identify the most appropriate solutions. Bases decisions on sound judgement and initiative.
• Achievement - Displays a high degree of commitment and purpose in pursuing objectives. Prioritises plans and organises workload. Focused and energetic in ensuring tasks are carried through to successful completion.
  Personal Effectiveness - Projects confidence, self-motivation and enthusiasm. Displays a positive attitude and demonstrates self-control when under pressure.

Client Care Standards:

• We Will Be Enthusiastic
• We Will Be Open and Accessible
• We Will Communicate and be Commercial
• We Will Act with Integrity

If you believe that you have the necessary skills and expertise to excel in this role, please attach your CV along with a covering letter including notice period and salary expectations to the form below.