Legal Counsel (Regions)

Network Rail; Birmingham; Hybrid; GBP 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

28 days annual leave

Contributory pension schemes

Bonus potential

Rail/underground season ticket subsidy

Staff travel perks

Hybrid working

Healthcare offers

Job summary

Network Rail is seeking a legally accomplished professional to serve as Legal Counsel (Regions) for the NW&C region, based in Birmingham or Manchester. You will advise across commercial, health and safety, and litigation matters, draft and negotiate agreements, and help resolve disputes while supporting regional projects and policies.

The role requires a current UK practicing certificate, as well as substantial commercial or litigation experience, and offers a 35-hour week with hybrid working,

Qualifications

• Mandatory: current UK practicing certificate clearly stated on CV
• Qualified solicitor or barrister with previous experience
• Legal background across commercial, corporate, competition, litigation or related areas with substantial commercial or litigation experience

Responsibilities

• Advise across a broad range of legal areas affecting the regional business, emphasis on commercial, health and safety, and litigation law
• Draft and negotiate commercial agreements; support regulatory, criminal and commercial disputes
• Contribute to policies, processes and training; provide legal expertise to cross-functional project teams; manage external advisers

Skills

UK practising certificate

Commercial/legal experience

Communication skills

Autonomy

Team player

Priority management

Problem solving

In-house experience

Regulated/public sector experience

Job description

Are you ready to make a difference in people's lives? At Network Rail, we connect passengers and freight customers, ensuring safe and efficient transportation across the country. We're an organisation where people truly matter, and when you join us, you matter to us and millions of others.

You will be part of the North West & Central Region (NW&C) which consist of three routes - North West, Central and West Coast South - and a regional team supporting Regional Major Programmes & Professional services. You can learn more about our region here: North West & Central region - Network Rail .

In the North West & Central Region, we're proud to be building a workforce that reflects the diverse communities we serve. We know that inclusive teams make better decisions, drive innovation, and help us create a safer, more accessible railway for everyone. Even if you don't meet every single requirement, we encourage you to apply. If you're passionate about making a difference and believe you have the skills or potential to thrive in this role, we'd love to hear from you. We're committed to creating an open, supportive environment where everyone feels they belong. Your unique perspective and experience could be exactly what we need to keep Britain moving safely and sustainably. Discover more about our commitment to Equity, Diversity and Inclusion at Network Rail Equity, diversity and inclusion - Network Rail .

We're alsoa Disability Confident Leader employerand we'll try our best to adapt the process and offer a reasonable alternative to help support people with disabilities access, apply and interview for roles.

About the role

As Legal Counsel (Regions) you will report to the Head of Legal (Commercial) for NW&C Region. You will advise across all areas of law which affect the regional business, with an emphasis on commercial, health and safety, and litigation law. Your day to day workload will include taking responsibility for advice on a wide range of matters including in the areas of commercial, health and safety, procurement, construction, employment, and public and regulatory law.

Package: This role sits within Band 3C Zone 2.

Location: The successful candidate can be based in Birmingham or Manchester.

As this is a role in a regional team, regular travel across NW&C is required.Candidates should be comfortable with frequent travel to client sites, regional offices, or other business locations as needed.

What's in it for you

Here are a few of the benefits we have to offer:

• 28 days annual leave - with the opportunity to buy and/or sell up to 5 days
• Access to a range of contributory pension schemes
• The potential to top up your competitive salary with a bonus
• A subsidy of up to 75% on rail and underground season tickets if you travel to work on the train
• Privileged staff travel - Discretionary leisure travel discount of 75%
• We can offer you a season ticket loan, annual season tickets are discounted.
• A 35-hour-per-week contract with flexible working options available to help support your work-life balance
• Hybrid working where possible and enhanced family-friendly support
• Take advantage of healthcare offers (including discounted healthcare club membership), discounted cycle hire, and online shopping sites
• 5 days of paid volunteering leave
• 2 weeks paid reserve leave for the Armed Forces community

We are seeking a highly capable and commercially astute legal professional to play a key role in supporting complex, high-value matters across the business. You'll play a key role in supporting the Regions legal team, working alongside senior legal leaders on a broad range of complex, high-value and commercially important matters. You'll provide clear, practical and business-focused legal advice, draft and negotiate commercial agreements, and help resolve regulatory, criminal and commercial disputes, enabling the business to manage risk while achieving its objectives. You'll also contribute to the development of policies, processes and training, provide legal expertise to cross-functional project teams, and manage external legal advisers where specialist support is required, while keeping senior legal colleagues informed on progress and key matters.

What you'll have:

It is a mandatory requirement to hold a current UK practicing certificate. Please indicate this clearly on your CV. If not, your application will be automatically rejected.

Qualified solicitor or barrister with previous experience.

Legal background to be gained across a number of legal areas whether commercial, corporate, competition, litigation, property or otherwise - but must have substantial commercial or litigation experience.

Ability to identify and minimise corporate legal risk in a commercial context

Strong communication and interpersonal skills both verbally and in writing, with the ability to build relationships and influence independently

Sound judgment and the confidence to operate with autonomy and accountability

A highly proactive mindset - you take ownership, spot issues early and drive solutions

Creative problem solver with can do attitude

A genuine team player who collaborates openly and contributes to a supportive, high performing environment

Proven ability to manage competing priorities and deliver under pressure

Basic financial/accounts understanding

We would also like but it isn't crucial to have/to be:

3+ years PQE in a relevant legal discipline

In-house experience (this includes, for example, a secondment)

Experience in a regulated or public sector body environment

Key Information

Number of Positions:

1

Contract Type:

Permanent

Hours:

Full Time

Location: