Senior Property Lawyer COUNCIL

The starting salary for this role is £61,784 to £67,859 per annum depending on experience based on a 36 hour working week.

We have a great opportunity to join our Commercial Property team as a qualified Senior Solicitor or Lawyer. We are looking for a flexible and motivated colleague to join this friendly team. Our work is interesting and varied and we work for informed and appreciative client teams.

The Council adopts a hybrid working policy with flexible working arrangements which includes access to our offices in Reigate and Weybridge combined with remote or home working. We come together in person for 2 days per week on average (40% of the working week). The team are very approachable with regular catch ups when working remotely.

• 26 days' holiday, rising to 28 days after 2 years' service and 31 days after 5 years' service (prorated for part time staff)
• Option to buy up to 10 days of additional annual leave
• A generous local government salary related pension
• Up to 5 days of carer's leave and 2 paid volunteering days per year
• Paternity, adoption and dependents leave
• An Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) to support health and wellbeing
• Learning and development hub where you can access a wealth of resources
• Wellbeing and lifestyle discounts including gym, travel, and shopping
• A chance to make a real difference to the lives of our residents.

The team sits alongside other teams in the County's Legal Services. It supports the work of the County in relation to all aspects of land and property management. You will be working as part of a team of property lawyers to provide advice across a broad range of legal property (and related) issues to support the Council in the provision of its services.

As a Senior Lawyer in the team, you will play an active role in the management of the team and will deputise for the Principal Lawyer alongside actively contributing to the future delivery of first‑class legal services.

You will be expected to carry out a range of key responsibilities, which will include providing property related advice and undertaking transactional work on behalf of the Council and its companies. You will need to demonstrate experience of independently managing a varied workload relating to all aspects of commercial property asset management. You'll play a key part by being able to:

• Negotiate and draft landlord and tenant transactions such as leases, licences and assignments
• Draft wayleaves, easements and third‑party consents
• Undertake freehold acquisitions and disposals of land and buildings
• Advise in relation to trusts and placing charges on properties related to deferred payment agreements
• Undertake title work and due diligence including reports on title and first registration
• A range of advisory work from reviewing covenants, boundary disputes and adverse possession to interpreting leases, agreements and legislation and guidance
• Advise and process applications relating to commons and town and village greens

• An understanding of local government powers in relation to property matters and application to transactional and advisory work
• Ability to identify risks in relation to property work and advise on options
• Flexibility to prioritise workloads and provide commercial and solution focused advice
• A willingness to independently develop in new areas of work
• A team player who supports colleagues and the work of the team
• Supervision of junior members of the team where required
• Ability to proactively manage your own caseload with minimal supervision
• Manage competing priorities to achieve client and statutory deadlines
• Ability to lead and represent Legal Services at client meetings
• Exemplary client care and organisational skills

In order to be considered for shortlisting, your application will clearly evidence the following skills and align with our behaviours:

• You are a Solicitor, Barrister or Fellow of CILEX with substantial experience of the law and practice in this area (5 years+ PQE or demonstrable equivalent) and eligible to practise in England and Wales with a current practicing certificate issued by the relevant regulatory authority
• D…