Transport Regulatory Solicitor 2 - 6 PQE

Weightmans; Manchester; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading law firm in Manchester is seeking a qualified solicitor with 2-6 years of PQE to join their transport regulatory team. The successful candidate will advise major transport clients, manage a heavy caseload, and represent operators in regulatory matters. Excellent advocacy and communication skills are essential for this high-demand role. This position offers opportunities for professional development and client interaction.

Qualifications

• Qualified solicitor with 2-6 years of PQE.
• Excellent advocacy skills or willingness to develop them.
• Experience in handling complex caseloads under pressure.

Responsibilities

• Advise clients on transport regulatory matters.
• Prepare cases for hearings and oversee preparations.
• Represent operators in PACE interviews and investigations.

Skills

Organisational skills

Team working

Written communication

Advocacy skills

Education

Qualified solicitor 2 - 6-year PQE

Job description

About your new role

The Regulatory Department is very diverse, offering a broad range of expert advice to organisations and individuals facing Health & Safety, criminal, environmental, CQC and other regulatory prosecutions. The department also advises individuals facing possible criminal and professional regulatory sanctions, as well as individuals and organisations requiring advice and representation at inquests. The department is rapidly expanding and we are a busy team.

The role

The transport regulatory team is headed up by Chris Powell and sits within the wider Regulatory Core team. This is a rapidly growing team with an enviable client base of major transport and logistics companies and corporate fleet operators. The role will primarily be to support Chris and the team in growing this practice area and managing a heavy caseload of transport regulatory matters. Our clients include some of the largest companies and fleet operators across the UK and Europe.

This is an excellent opportunity to develop a specialism in a high-demand, high-consequence area of privately funded regulatory law.

With our diverse offering, inevitably there will both the scope and need for our lawyers to be involved in work for clients outside of their core caseload.

Main duties and responsibilities

• Advising clients on transport regulatory matters including all areas across the operator licensing regime regulated by the Office of the Traffic Commissioner
• Preparing cases for hearings, including taking witness statements, drafting submissions, overseeing the preparation of bundles, conducting investigations and similar
• Representing operators in PACE interviews with DVSA or other regulators
• Responding to DVSA investigations or desk-based assessments
• Supporting with training exercises for clients, including mock Public Inquiries and incident response training sessions
• Undertaking compliance reviews for clients
• Representing operators at hearings before the Traffic Commissioners including Preliminary Hearings, Public Inquiries and Senior Team Leader Meetings, and undertaking own advocacy
• Transport regulatory corporate due diligence support

General

• Undertaking business development activities, supporting the members of the team and public speaking events.
• Achieve set financial and chargeable targets
• Ensure relevant deadlines, quality measures and KPIs are adhered to
• Comply with relevant policies and procedures
• Work in accordance with Weightmans’ values

About You

Essential

• Qualified solicitor 2 - 6-year PQE
• Advocacy skills or willingness to develop these
• Excellent organisational and time management skills
• Excellent collaborative and team working skills
• Exceptional written communication and drafting skills
• Experienced in handling complex caseloads under pressure
• Comfortable travelling nationwide to visit clients and to attend court hearings, including travel by car

Desirable

• Advocacy experience
• Comfortable advising and presenting to companies at board-level
• Transport Regulatory experience or willingness to be developed in this area
• Wider regulatory defence experience is desirable
• Excellent IT skills
• Ability to work to deadlines and targets
• Ability to work as part of a team and on own initiative
• Flexible approach
• Passion for business development, including writing articles, presenting to industry bodies, and developing relationships