Legal Counsel (Regions)

Network Rail; City of Westminster; Hybrid; GBP 55,000 - 66,000; Full time

Job summary

A major transportation organization is seeking a Legal Counsel (Property) to provide high-quality legal advice focused on real estate and property litigation law. The role requires collaboration with legal teams and business colleagues. The successful candidate will work closely with the Head of Legal, engage in high-value legal matters, and contribute to national policies. The position is temporary until June 2026, offering a salary range of £55,596 – £65,966.

Benefits

28 days annual leave with buy/sell option

Contributory pension scheme

Subsidy on rail/underground season tickets

Healthcare offers and discounts

5 days paid volunteering leave

Qualifications

• Qualified solicitor or barrister with previous experience.
• Legal background across various areas with substantial experience.
• Ability to identify and minimise corporate legal risk.

Responsibilities

• Support Head of Legal on complex legal matters.
• Deliver business-focused legal advice.
• Participate in cross-regional project teams advising on legal aspects.

Skills

Strong communication skills

Interpersonal skills

Proactive problem-solving

Ability to work under pressure

Basic financial understanding

Education

Qualified solicitor or barrister

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 dedicated to building a diverse and inclusive organisation that reflects the passengers we serve. We invest in our people to enhance safety, reliability, and efficiency of the railway system. If you’re passionate about making a meaningful impact, this opportunity is for you.

About our region and the role

You will be part of the North West & Central Region (NW&C), which comprises three routes — North West, Central and West Coast South — and a regional team supporting Regional Major Programmes & Professional services. As Legal Counsel (Property), you will provide high‑quality legal advice aligned to a region or regions within Network Rail, with a focus on real estate and property litigation law. You will act as a strategic business partner to support the region’s priorities and be integral to delivering these aims. With appropriate supervision, you will have a high degree of autonomy in the work you deliver and the support of the Head of Legal and General Counsel for the Region. You will work closely with colleagues across the business, including frontline railway operations, nationally significant infrastructure projects, major railway enhancements, and industry initiatives. As part of a national legal community, you will collaborate with other members of the legal team across Regions and National functions and support matters on the Board agenda. The role may suit someone with railway‑specific or similar industry experience with an emphasis on health and safety, though that experience is not a requirement. Experience giving Landlord & Tenant advice will be useful. This is a temporary opportunity to June 2026, with the potential to be extended. The successful candidate can be based in Birmingham, London (Waterloo), Manchester or Milton Keynes. Interviews will take place in Birmingham or Milton Keynes.

Responsibilities

1. Supporting and working alongside the Head of Legal (Regions) on complex and/or high‑value legal matters, with a specific emphasis on real estate and property litigation matters.
2. Delivering legal advice that is business‑focused, accurate and appropriate to reduce risk and achieve commercial objectives.
3. Assisting the Head of Legal (Regions) on the development of national and regional company policies and processes, and/or training to foster effective management of Network Rail's land asset management.
4. Participating in cross‑regional project teams advising on legal aspects to achieve commercial objectives.
5. Instructing and supervising external lawyers when required.
6. Providing regular information and reports of work in progress to the Head of Legal (Regions).
7. Contributing actively to a property legal national community of practice.
8. Participating in executive meetings relevant to the Region and providing reports as required.

Requirements

To be successful in this role, we would like you to have

• Qualified solicitor or barrister with previous experience.
• Legal background across a number of areas (commercial, corporate, competition, litigation, property or otherwise) with substantial commercial or litigation experience.
• Ability to identify and minimise corporate legal risk.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills, both verbally and in writing.
• Proactive and commercially minded; a creative problem solver with a can‑do attitude.
• Ability to work under pressure, prioritise and handle competing demands.
• Basic financial/accounts understanding.

It would also be helpful but isn’t crucial to have

• In‑house experience (including secondments).
• Experience in a regulated or public sector environment.
• Experience of planning processes, particularly for obtaining/responding to applications for new statutory powers (e.g., Transport and Works Act 1992 and Planning Act 2008).

How to apply

Salary: £55,596 – £65,966. Closing date: Thursday 18 September 2025. Late applications will not be accepted. We may close the advert early if a large volume of applicants is received. This is a fixed‑term opportunity ending in June 2026 and may be extended. Occasional travel across NW&C is required. Interviews will be held in Birmingham or Milton Keynes.

How to apply and accessibility

Click apply now to apply. If you require accessibility support or reasonable adjustments, please add a note to your application. All offers of employment are conditional upon satisfactory completion of pre‑employment checks.

Network Rail Benefits

• 28 days annual leave – with the option to buy or sell up to 5 days
• Access to contributory pension schemes and optional bonus where applicable
• Subsidy of up to 75% on rail/underground season tickets
• Staff travel discounts with discretionary leisure travel
• Season ticket loan and discounted annual season tickets
• 35‑hour‑per‑week contract with flexible working options
• Hybrid working where possible and enhanced family‑friendly support
• Healthcare offers, discounted healthcare club membership, discounted cycle hire, and online shopping
• 5 days of paid volunteering leave
• 2 weeks paid reserve leave for the Armed Forces community

All offers of employment are conditional upon satisfactory completion of pre‑employment checks.