The things I know - Tim Johnson, Partner, Davies Arnold Cooper

Planning, 16 May 2008

An LLB in business law and an ability to use a library and digest lots of information reasonably quickly.

- What attracted you to planning?

I fell into planning after applying for a summer job in the legal department of my local authority. I was told to read the introduction to the Planning Encyclopedia and handed a couple of section 52 agreements to deal with. An excellent mentor and a fascination with built form was enough.

- What did you learn in your first job?

To listen, to try to avoid prejudging any issue and to adhere to the philosophy that I know nothing except the fact of my own ignorance.

- What skills have you had to learn over your career?

The patience to get all the facts together before jumping in and being able to see the arguments that can be put against my clients early. Two of the key skills for planning lawyers are an ability to be flexible in how we look at our discipline, particularly with the increasing speed of additional regulatory controls and change, and an ability to see the bigger picture.

- What or who have been the biggest influences on your career?

There have been many and I hope that there will continue to be.

- What is your career highlight?

When the system works and everyone comes out without feeling that they have compromised unacceptably is welcome, but this situation seems increasingly difficult to reach.

- What have you learnt outside work that has influenced you?

That there is a life out there and it does not revolve around work.

- What further skills do you aim to obtain or develop?

Patience.

- How important is it to keep abreast of developments in allied professions?

Very important. The distinctions between what planning lawyers, planners and highways or environmental consultants do is not clear and we all need to have a basic understanding of each other's work and developments in those spheres.