Paralegal - Planning & Environment

About the role:

We have a great opportunity for a Paralegal to join our Planning and Environment team within in our Real Estate Sector (REG) in Birmingham. 

As a Paralegal you will be responsible for:

• Undertaking your own caseload of more routine planning and infrastructure agreements and licences.
• Assisting with property-related work.
• Assisting other team members in relation to more complex and planning-related matters such as judicial review claims, due diligence, Public Inquiries.
• Other suitable duties delegated by any partner or other senior member of the team.

About the Planning & Environment Team

Led by three experienced partners, our planning team is split across our two UK offices.

Our team prides itself on having talented lawyers with a wealth of experience in all aspects of planning, highways, environmental, development consent and compulsory purchase.

We carry out a broad range of work, including contentious and non-contentious matters. We have an extensive client base, including public sector bodies, private landowners, commercial developers and the majority of the UK's largest house builders.

What it's like to work with us

Working in an international law firm alongside some of the country's leading planning and environment lawyers, dealing with some of the largest projects being undertaken is exciting and fast-moving

The team has a diverse mix of lawyers from both private and public sector backgrounds. This allows us to be in tune with our clients' world, whether our clients are local authorities or private sector developers.

We're a focused bunch led by three well-respected partners. If you want a new challenge and are ambitious and driven not only for your career but also to help achieve our clients' goals you'll fit right in

There is excellent support in the team. There are no sub-teams within the team: junior fee earners are encouraged to work with a variety of clients and colleagues in order to develop their skills. You're never left to feel isolated or out of your depth – support is always available to consider the options and find the best solution.

The team delivers training, writes articles and attends a number of seminars and legal updates. Each team member creates a personal development plan which sets out challenging objectives to ensure appropriate progress. There is mentoring available as soon as you join and a "buddy" on hand to support you during your settling in period.

About you:

We're looking for someone who ideally has experience working in a legal or business environment and is confident dealing with clients, whether independently or as part of a team, particularly on more complex matters. 

A basic understanding of planning, highways and property law would be helpful, as well as experience managing transactions from start to finish in line with client procedures. The ability to handle a high volume of work is an advantage.

Full training will be provided, and we welcome applications from candidates with other legal experience or a legal background.

What We Can Offer You:

The opportunity to work for a firm that has been recognised as one of best places to work in the UK and has been ranked by Great Place to Work for 26 consecutive years.

Excellent benefits, including:

• A hybrid approach to office and remote working.
• 25 days annual leave, with the option to buy up to a week's extra annual leave
• Private medical insurance, and the option to add family members
• A generous pension allowance
• Life assurance covering four times your annual salary
• The chance of a three-month sabbatical every five years
• Maternity, paternity and adoption leave schemes
• A range of health and wellbeing programmes
• State of the art offices, with an onsite restaurant
• Opportunities to flourish in your role through training and personal development

Equal Opportunities:

Gowling WLG is committed both to promoting equality and diversity in the firm and to Equal Opportunities in employment.  The firm believes in equality of opportunity regardless of race or racial group (including colour, nationality, ethnicity, national origins), religion or belief, age, disability, sexual orientation, sex, gender re-assignment and gender identity, marriage and civil partnership, and pregnancy, maternity and paternity.  This also includes any incidents of perceptive or associative discrimination and harassment.

At Gowling WLG we seek to attract and retain talented people from a diverse range of backgrounds and cultures, to create an exciting and rewarding place to work.  Our aim is to fulfil everyone's potential and together to achieve personal and business goals.

If you have any queries in relation to this position or would like to see a full job description please contact Meg Astley at  

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