Principal Property Lawyer

Surrey County Council; Reigate; Hybrid; GBP 70,000 - GBP 79,000; Full time

Job summary

A local government authority in the United Kingdom is seeking a Principal Property Lawyer to lead its property legal team. The candidate will provide expert legal advice on high-value property matters, with an expectation of office presence in a hybrid setting. With substantial experience required, the role offers a salary of £70,975 to £78,002, along with generous benefits including 26 days holiday, health support, and more. This position aims to support the Council's services effectively.

Benefits

26 days holiday, increasing with service

Employee Assistance Programme

Lifestyle discounts

Learning and development resources

Paid volunteering days

Qualifications

• Substantial experience in property law and practice.
• Eligible to practice in England and Wales.
• Experience working with clients at all levels.

Responsibilities

• Lead and manage a team of property lawyers.
• Provide expert legal advice on complex property matters.
• Support the Council in land and property management.

Skills

Leadership in commercial property legal work

Client care and organisational skills

Ability to provide strategic, risk-based advice

Flexibility to prioritise workloads

Experience managing a team

Education

Solicitor, Barrister, or Fellow of CILEX

5 years+ PQE or equivalent

Job description

• Location: Woodhatch Place, Reigate, RH2 8EF

Description

The starting salary for this role is £70,975 to £78,002 per annum depending on experience based on a 36 hour working week.

We are seeking a highly experienced and motivated Principal Property Lawyer to provide senior-level leadership of our property legal team and expert legal advice on complex and high‑value property matters.

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. As the manager of the team there is an expectation of office presence and bringing the team together in person.

Our Offer to You

• 26 days' holiday, rising to 28 days after 2 years' service and 31 days after 5 years' service
• Option to buy up to 10 days of additional annual leave
• An Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) to support health and wellbeing
• Up to 5 days of carer's leave per year
• Paternity, adoption and dependents leave
• A generous local government salary related pension
• Lifestyle discounts including gym, travel, and shopping
• 2 paid volunteering days per year
• Learning and development hub where you can access a wealth of resources

About the Role

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 lead and manage a team of property lawyers and be the primary contact for a broad range of legal property (and related) issues to support the Council in the provision of its services.

If you consider yourself to be an effective and dynamic individual, with experience of managing and supervising people and the ability to motivate others whilst working in a team, then you will likely be well suited to this role.

The role will require:

• Experience of leading commercial property legal work
• Ability to provide strategic, commercially focused and risk-based advice at pace
• An understanding of local government powers and governance and their application to transactional and advisory work
• Flexibility to prioritise workloads and provide commercial and solutions focused advice
• Exemplary client care and organisational skills

Your Application

In order to be considered for shortlisting, your application will clearly evidence the following skills and align withour 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
• Ability to lead and represent Legal Services and deputise for the Assistant Director
• Experience of managing a team
• Experience of working with clients at all levels and ability to give clear, accurate and solutions focused advice
• Ability to take on urgent, and sometimes unfamiliar, matters at short notice
• Ability to manage competing priorities to achieve client deadlines.

Contact Us

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 22nd February 2026 with interviews to follow.

If you are looking for a role which is both varied and interesting with an opportunity to develop your existing skills and employment experience by working in local government, please click the apply button below to submit your application.

Local Government Reorganisation (LGR)

Surrey County Council is undergoing Local Government Reorganisation, moving from a two-tier system to two new unitary councils in April 2027. If you are employed by Surrey on 1st April 2027, your role will transfer with current terms and conditions to one of the new organisations, supporting local devolution and greater powers for our communities.

We are a disability confident employer which means if you have shared a disability on your application form and have evidenced you meet the minimum criteria, we guarantee you an interview.

Your skills and experience truly matter to us. From application to your first day, we're committed to supporting you with any adjustments you need, we value inclusion and warmly welcome you to join and help build a workplace where everyone belongs.