Charles Russell Speechlys
NQ Associate - Real Estate (Planning)

How your CV stacks up
Upload your CV to see how well it fits this job role
?%
NQ Associate - Real Estate (Planning)
Whether working with a landowner, developer or investor, you will be part of a team which is highly responsive to our clients’ needs and focused on steering them safely through the complex planning system, through our knowledgeable, practical and commercial approach. Offering a dedicated personal service, we develop and build lasting relationships and truly get to know our clients to enable us to deliver a premium service.
There will be opportunities to develop your skills in a broad range of areas and to build specialisms in areas that you are interested in. Our advice includes planning strategy, applications and appeals, court challenges and enforcement, CIL and section 106 and infrastructure agreements. We also provide environmental, highways, compulsory purchase and public law advice. Our strategy is to generate standalone planning instructions, particularly advising on larger and more complex projects (often in London) in order to utilise our skills to the maximum effect.
We also work with our real estate and corporate colleagues across the Firm on transactions. We have a broad client base including developers, landowners, institutional and private investors, house builders, corporate occupiers, charities and waste and minerals businesses, seeking our advice in relation to sites in London and around the country.
Reasons to use Rodeo
I’m in my final year doing Economics and I don’t know whether to apply for grad schemes now or do a masters first. What do you think?
Honest answer — it depends on where you want to end up. A lot of top grad schemes (Big 4, civil service, banking) don’t need a masters. Let’s look at the ones you’d be competitive for now, and we can decide if a masters actually adds anything.
Also worth knowing: most autumn 2026 applications are open now. Timing matters more than you think.
Start with a chat, not a search bar
Grad scheme, placement, apprenticeship? Not sure what you want yet — that's fine. Your agent talks it through with you and turns "I have no idea" into a shortlist.
Graduate Consultant — 2026 Scheme
Why you're a good match
StrongYour economics background and your summer at a regional bank line up with what PwC looks for on the consulting scheme. Applications close in four weeks.
See breakdownIt searches the market for you
Every day your agent scans the market matching roles against what actually matters to you, not just keywords on a CV.
Why you're a good match
You’ve got the grades and the economics background, and your bank internship is exactly the experience this scheme looks for. Apply soon — deadlines close within the month.
Experience fit
Your summer at the bank plus your econometrics coursework map directly to the day-one responsibilities on this scheme — client modelling, market briefings, and deal support.
Only hits
No noise. No "maybe this fits." Just roles with a clear explanation of why they're right — and where to focus when applying.
Roles and Responsibilities
- Undertake research for and help prepare commercial legal advice to clients in a succinct, practical and persuasive manner, on all aspects of planning law and associated areas of advice (such as environmental, heritage and compulsory purchase law).
- Draft and negotiate section 106 and infrastructure agreements.
- Undertake due diligence for and advise on planning aspects of real estate, funding and corporate transactions.
- Assist with planning appeals, court challenges and enforcement matters.
- Working as part of a team, provide support to the partners and associates and manage your own workload as appropriate.
- Help assess and prepare advice on and insight into legislative and policy change and reform.
- Engage in business development activities including attending internal and external events and writing press commentary and articles.
- Participate in client marketing opportunities such as seminars.
- Contribute to the Firm’s knowledge and know-how initiatives.
- Comply with all relevant and regulatory obligations including the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) Standards and Regulations, and Principles.


Get help with your application
Your very own career expert that helps elevate your application to the next level.
Person Specification
- Be an England and Wales qualified solicitor (NQ) or be due to qualify by September 2026.
- Be confident to run own matters under supervision and as part of a team.
- Demonstrate good time management skills.
- Be organised.
- Have a flexible approach and willing to go the extra mile.
Competencies
- Working together
- Integrity and respect
- Inclusive
- Personal impact and growth
- Driving high standards
- Commercial mindset
- Client-centric
- Responsible Business
Hybrid working - We adopt a hybrid and flexible working approach, dependent on the requirements of the role and subject to manager approval.
For a detailed specification please download the job description in the documents section of this page.
Clicking 'apply' will direct you to the application tracking system, hosted for us by Reach-ATS.com.
“It took my CV and asked me questions relevant to understanding what kind of jobs to suggest for me. Suggestions were almost perfect. Jobs were exactly what I’ve been looking for.”
Jessica, London
Skills
Location