Associate – Planning & Environmental

Planning & Environmental Associate

Ready to take your career to the next level? We’re one of the UK’s most forward‑thinking law firms, built on a foundation of innovation, collaboration, and ambition. Join us and let’s shape the future together. We are in a period of exclusive direct sourcing for this role and are not currently accepting applications from recruitment agencies.

• Role:
  Planning & Environmental Associate
• Team:
  Planning & Environmental
• Locations:
  Bristol, Exeter or Southampton
• Working pattern:
  Full‑time or part‑time

This is a unique opportunity to contribute to the growth of our Planning & Environment team, which is ranked in Chambers and the Legal 500. You can expect to work on large‑scale projects, ranging from commercial and residential developments to significant infrastructure and regeneration schemes, for a range of national and regional clients.

• Advise clients on planning applications, negotiate planning and infrastructure agreements, and provide commercially focused advice on securing and implementing planning permissions.
• Work on large scale development consent orders for Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects.
• Support the Transactional Property Group, acting for both private and public sector clients.

• 0 – 5 years PQE in planning matters. Specific experience of residential development, energy‑related matters or environmental issues is highly desirable but not essential.
• An ability to forge relationships with clients, offering advice that aligns with their commercial and legal objectives.
• A shared passion for innovation, collaboration – achieving great things together.

• An ambitious growth strategy that opens opportunities for our people to make their mark.
• A client base that spans household names, thriving start‑ups, and ambitious enterprises.
• A culture built on our values of being refreshingly human, entrepreneurial, inclusive and collaborative.
• A strong focus on being a responsible business with a commitment to sustainability and giving back to our communities.
• Comprehensive professional development and training – whatever your role and level we have training that will support you to achieve your goals.

• Competitive salary and performance‑linked bonus.
• Enhanced parental leave policies.
• Private healthcare and wellbeing initiatives (e.g., mental health support, gym memberships).
• A modern, flexible working environment.

Hit the “Apply Now” button. Send us your CV and a quick note on why this role is perfect for you. Our team will review your application and be in touch, whatever the outcome.

Interview process:
Our talent acquisition team will guide you through a straightforward process typically involving two interviews. We’ll discuss the themes we’ll cover and answer any questions you may have. If you need adaptations or adjustments, we’re happy to accommodate. Feel free to contact us at attale to discuss.

In return for your efforts, you can expect scope for personal as well as professional development. We encourage people to engage with our popular and well supported coaching and mentoring programmes, which connect you to people right across the firm and at every level. We create space for mental and physical wellbeing with our weekly Lifestyle Hour, along with market‑leading family friendly policies, including a fertility support package, health cash plan, 28 days annual leave, a day off for your birthday, and a sabbatical you can take every 5 years.

You can also buy holiday and manage your benefits flexibly using our sophisticated portal to configure your total reward offer according to what you value most. As part of this, you can make ongoing or one‑off donations to our charitable foundation and access our CSR programme where you can engage with community‑based initiatives (as a team, or individually) twice a year to give something back where you feel it matters.

We actively encourage applications from all suitably qualified people, regardless of any characteristics protected by law. If you apply for this role you may be encouraged to answer our diversity and social mobility monitoring questions, so please be reassured that any answers you provide will remain entirely anonymous and confidential and will in no way impact your application.