Network Rail
Legal Counsel (Property)
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Who We Are
Join Network Rail! Where People and Connections Matter
At Network Rail, we're dedicated to keeping passengers and freight moving safely and efficiently across the country. When you join us, you're not just part of a team—you're part of something that matters to millions. We believe that our people are at the heart of what we do, and every role plays a vital part in building a better, more connected railway.
We're committed to creating a diverse, inclusive workplace that reflects the communities we serve. To discover more about our ED&I commitments click here. We value flexibility and understand the importance of a healthy work-life balance. As a Disability Confident Leader, we'll do everything we can to accommodate any needs throughout the recruitment process.
Safe behaviour is a requirement of working for Network Rail. Applicants should be able to demonstrate their awareness of our safety vision.
About The Role
Network Rail's Eastern Region connects communities and businesses across a diverse and strategically important part of the railway. The Regional Legal team works alongside colleagues responsible for operating, maintaining, and developing the network, providing practical legal support on complex projects and day-to-day business priorities.
The Property Legal team advises on a broad portfolio that includes major infrastructure and station projects, regeneration and development schemes, acquisitions and disposals, leases, access and operational rights, land management, compulsory purchase, planning interfaces, and property disputes. The role offers varied, high-quality work with a clear public-service purpose, alongside the opportunity to build strong relationships across the business and the wider Legal and Corporate Assurance function.
In the Legal Counsel (Property) role, you will provide high-quality, pragmatic, and commercially focused legal advice, principally in relation to real estate and property litigation matters. The role will support the Head of Property Legal and work collaboratively with colleagues across the Eastern Region Legal team, the wider Network Rail legal community, and the business to manage legal risk and help deliver operational and strategic objectives.
This is an opportunity to work on a varied portfolio in a complex operational environment, combining responsibility for your own matters with involvement in significant projects and cross-functional teams.
This role can be based at London, Derby, or York.
Key Accountabilities
- Supporting and working alongside either the Head of Legal for the region on complex and/or high-value legal matters, with specific emphasis on real estate and property litigation matters.
- Responsible for delivery of legal advice that is business-focused, accurate, and appropriate so allowing the company to reduce its risk of exposure and achieve its commercial and business objectives.
- Assisting on the development of both national and regional policies and processes, in order to foster a holistic and effective approach to the legal management of Network Rail's land asset management.
- Participation in various cross-regional project teams advising on legal aspects and problem-solving to achieve commercial objectives.
- Instruct and supervise external lawyers to support their areas of responsibility when required.
- Providing regular information and reports to the Head of Legal (Regions) as required.
- Contribute actively to a property legal national community of practice.
- Participate in various executive meetings relevant to the Region and provide reports and information as required.
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Essential Criteria
- Qualified solicitor or barrister with previous experience.
- Property legal specialist.
- Good private practice experience.
- In-house experience.
- Evidence of being able to identify and minimise corporate legal risk.
- Evidence of strong communication and interpersonal skills both verbally and in writing.
- Proactive and commercially minded.
- Creative problem solver with a can-do attitude.
- Works well under pressure, with the ability to prioritise and handle competing demands.
Desirable Criteria
- Experience advising an infrastructure, transport, utilities, public-sector, or other regulated organisation.
- Experience of complex development, regeneration, or major infrastructure projects.
- Knowledge of compulsory purchase, planning law, or property issues affecting operational land.
- Experience of managing external legal advisers and legal spend.
- Experience working in multidisciplinary project teams and building effective relationships with senior stakeholders.
Please note: Applicants must provide proof of essential qualifications and/or competencies where required, or demonstrate active progress toward obtaining them, or evidence their applicable experience as a condition of employment.
External How To Apply
Network Rail welcomes applications regardless of age, disability, marital status (including civil partnerships), pregnancy or maternity, race, religion or belief, sexual orientation, transgender status, sex (or gender), employment status, trade union affiliation, or other irrelevant factor.
We are a Disability Confident Leader employer! We will interview all disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria.
We are here to support you through every step of the recruitment process and to enable you to perform to the best of your ability. If you require any adjustments or modifications please contact Mark Holt (Resourcing Business Partner) at mark.holt@networkrail.co.uk. You can also visit Evenbreak's Career Hive for advice on accessibility support if you're unsure of the options available.
We positively embrace flexible working, recognising that employees may wish to balance work with their family and home life.
Network Rail Benefits - To find out about what benefits we offer, click here.
Network Rail is required to comply with UK Government standards when carrying out pre-employment checks for all new starters; this includes a basic criminal record check. In addition to the basic criminal record check, in accordance with the UK Government we are also required to verify your identity, right to work in the UK, and previous three years' employment history.
All offers of employment are conditional upon satisfactory completion of pre-employment checks. Click here for more information. Please ensure you have the appropriate Right to Work status when applying for this role.
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Keeping people safe on the railway is at the heart of everything we do, safe behaviour is therefore a requirement of working for Network Rail. You should be able to demonstrate your personal commitment to safety and awareness of our safety vision.
Network Rail can offer you a rewarding career with competitive pay and excellent benefits including a choice of contributory pension schemes, a generous annual leave package, a bonus scheme, and an annual 75% subsidy on season tickets costing up to £3,333 (to a maximum amount of £2,500). You will also be entitled to 28 days' annual leave.
Salary: £55,596 to £67,813 per annum (plus an Inner London allowance of £3,270 per annum for London-based roles).
Employees will be entitled to a 75% discount off leisure travel, this includes off-peak and super off-peak tickets*.
Some of our roles require face-to-face Drugs & Alcohol testing. Further details will be shared with you as part of your formal offer.
Closing date: 17th September 2026. Late applications will not be accepted. We retain the right to close the advert before the listed closing date based on application volumes.
What's In It For You
Here are a few of the benefits we offer
- 28-day annual leave with the option to buy and sell days.
- Choice of pension schemes.
- 75% discount of leisure travel for you and your family.
- Private Healthcare.
- 5 days paid volunteer or carers leave.
- Up to 75% subsidised Rail and Underground travel.
- Gym Pass - access to gyms across the UK.
- My Benefits platform - giving national and local retail discount.
Our aim is to ensure your candidate experience is as positive as possible. If you require reasonable adjustments at any point, simply let us know and we'll do our best to assist you.
Some of our roles require face-to-face Drugs & Alcohol testing. We will share further details with you as part of your formal offer.
All offers of employment are conditional upon satisfactory completion of pre-employment checks. Click here for more information.
Your Experience And Skills
You will be an experienced property lawyer who combines sound technical judgement with a practical, proportionate, and collaborative approach. You will be comfortable taking ownership of matters, identifying the key risks, and giving clear recommendations in circumstances where the legal, commercial, and operational considerations may not all point in the same direction.
You will be curious about the business, able to build trusted relationships, and confident working with colleagues from a range of professional backgrounds. You will communicate with clarity, exercise judgement about when to resolve an issue independently and when to escalate, and remain organised and responsive across a varied workload. Railway experience is welcome but is not essential. More important is the ability to learn quickly and apply strong property law expertise in a complex operational environment.
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