Principal Property Solicitor

The Woodland Trust is looking for a Principal Property Solicitor to lead the Trust property legal matters taking responsibility for a variety of cases.

The Role:
•    Manage the Trusts property legal cases including estate acquisitions, commercial leasehold, agricultural property matters and estate management matters across the UK.
•    Lead the Trusts team of property layers providing support and training where required.
•    Provide pragmatic, considered and informed legal advice.
•    Research areas of law to provide considered solutions in new contexts.
•    Monitor and manage engagement with external solicitors and oversee VFM delivery.
•    Understand and advise on legal risk to enable effective decision making within the organisation.
•    Create bespoke documentation to produce appropriate agreements.
•    This is a hybrid position with a mix of home working, and from our head office in Grantham, Lincolnshire. Head office attendance would be required no more than once every two months on average. Occasional travel to sites may also be required.

The Candidate:
•    Must be a qualified solicitor or barrister in England with significant post-qualification experience within commercial or agricultural property law and must have a current practicing certificate.
•    Strong negotiation skills with the ability to persuade and reason effectively. 
•    Experience leading on complex property cases.
•    Knowledge about commercial property law including leases, overage, pre-emption agreements, options and large scale freehold acquisitions.
•    Strong collaboration skills with the ability to build strong stakeholder relationships with a wide range of stakeholders.
•    Knowledge on agricultural law with the ability to apply in practice.
•    Experience advising stakeholders on complex property legal issues.

Benefits and Wellbeing:
Joining our team means you’ll be a big part of tackling environmental and climate issues. We take good care of our staff, offering support and training opportunities. We also offer:
•    Enhanced Employer Pension
•    Life Assurance
•    Flexible & Hybrid Working Options
•    Generous Annual Leave - 25 Days Plus Bank Holidays (pro rata’d for part-time)
•    Buy and Sell Holiday Scheme
•    Enhanced Parental Pay
•    Employee Assistance Programme

About Us:
The Woodland Trust is the UK’s largest woodland conservation charity.  We want to see a world where trees and woods thrive for people and nature. The Trust engages and inspires people to make their difference tackling the nature and climate crisis helping protect, restore and create our vital woods and trees.

Our Commitment to Diversity and Inclusion:
To achieve our vision of a world where woods and trees thrive for people and nature, we need to better reflect society and the communities we work in. All people, no matter their background, identity, ability, or circumstance, should benefit from trees.  
People of colour and disabled people are currently under-represented across the environment and conservation sector. If you identify as a person of colour and/or disabled, we particularly encourage you to apply. 
Please contact us to discuss any additional support or adjustments you may need to complete your application.

Application Advice:
For fairness we keep our candidates’ personal details hidden from the hiring managers, and CVs are redacted until after shortlisting is complete. Make sure that you answer the Application Questions to show your relevant skills and passion for the role. 

Acceptable Use - Artificial Intelligence (AI):
We understand that candidates may choose to use AI tools to support their job applications-for example, to help structure or edit written responses. We welcome the use of AI in this way, particularly where it helps improve accessibility, such as for neurodivergent applicants. However, we ask that any information submitted reflects your own experience, skills and understanding. During interviews, candidates are expected to respond independently without the use of AI tools. 

Apply Now:
If you're ready to make a difference and grow with us, send in your application today. We might close the job opening early if we get a lot of applications, so it's a good idea to apply soon. If we do close the advert early, and you have an application in process, we will email you prior to closing to give you time to complete.

Interviews will be held via Microsoft Teams on the 29th and 30th June 2026.