The salary range for this role is £52,047 to £57,125 per annum. This salary is based on a 36-hour working week, but we will consider applications from candidates looking for part time or flexible hours. As a Property Lawyer at Surrey County Council, you will join a supportive, successful and Lexcel accredited in-house legal team that delivers effective legal advice, representation and assistance to the Council. We offer hybrid working which allows for remote working but we also require regular office attendance with the aim to give everyone a balanced work/life ratio. You will be expected to attend a Surrey office a minimum of 40% of your working week, with the ability to access offices across Surrey's estate in Reigate, Leatherhead, Weybridge and Woking. Rewards and Benefits 26 days' holiday plus public holidays (prorated for part time staff), rising to 28 days after 2 years' service and 31 days after 5 years' serviceOpportunity to join our Lawyers Career Scheme which will allow for accelerated career and salary progression based on performanceOption to buy up to 10 days of additional annual leaveFamily Friendly policies including excellent Maternity, Paternity and Adoption entitlements and up to 5 days carer's leave per yearAn extensive Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) supporting health and wellbeingA generous local government salary related pensionLifestyle discounts including gym, travel, shopping and many more2 paid volunteering days per yearLearning and development hub where you can access a wealth of resources About the Role We are looking for two flexible, motivated and ambitious qualified Lawyers with experience of Commercial Property work to join our progressive service. 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 including: Negotiating and drafting Landlord and Tenant transactions such as leases, licences and assignmentsDrafting wayleaves, easements and third party consentsUndertaking freehold acquisitions and disposals of land and buildingsProviding advice and transactional management of property related Schools work and Academy conversionsAdvising in relation to trusts related to Deferred Payment AgreementsAdvice and processing of applications relating to Commons and Town and Village GreensUndertaking title work and due diligence including Reports on Title and First RegistrationA range of advisory work from reviewing covenants, boundary disputes and adverse possession to interpreting leases, agreements and legislation and guidance The role will require: A good understanding of local government powers in relation to property matters and application to transactional and advisory workAbility to identify risks in relation to property work and advise on optionsFlexibility to prioritise workloads and provide commercial and solution focussed adviceA willingness to independently develop in new areas of workA team player who supports colleagues and the work of the teamWilling to assist with the supervision of junior members of the team where requiredAbility to proactively manage your own caseload with minimal supervisionManage competing priorities to achieve client and statutory deadlinesAbility to lead and represent Legal Services at client meetingsExemplary client care and organisational skills Shortlisting Criteria To be considered for shortlisting for this position, your application will clearly evidence that you are a qualified solicitor, barrister or FILEX with a minimum of three years post qualification experience (or demonstrable equivalent) in commercial property law with an interest in developing this expertise further. Please contact us for any questions relating to the role. This could be to discuss flexible working requests, transferable skills or any barriers to employment. This post has been designated as a politically restricted post in accordance with the Local Government and Housing Act 1989. This advert closes at 23:59 on 10th August 2025 with interviews to follow. Local Government Reorganisation Surrey County Council is preparing for Local Government Reorganisation which will allow us to implement the Government led policy of devolution, which is all about giving more powers to local areas. Currently, Surrey has a two-tier council system, with 11 district and borough councils and a county council, all responsible for different services. All these councils will be reorganised into a smaller number of new unitary councils which will come into effect in April 2027. At this point, this role will be transferred, with all existing terms and conditions intact into one of the new unitary councils. Join our dynamic team and shape the future of local government. Make a lasting impact with innovative solutions and improved services for our community. Help us build a brighter future for our residents! Please see more information on our website. Our Commitment Surrey County Council is proud to be a Disability Confident Employer. A guaranteed interview will be offered to all disabled applicants where: The candidate has evidenced the minimum criteria for the role through their applicationThe candidate has chosen to share that they have a disability on the application form Our application form and onboarding process will provide an opportunity to request any reasonable adjustments for the interview and/or the role. We want to be an inclusive and diverse employer reflecting the community we serve and particularly welcome applications from all underrepresented groups.
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