Solicitor

We are passionate about keeping people safe, delighting our customers and doing the right thing. With over 2,600 employees, our people are the reason for our success. Our Crime and Security Team plays a vital role in this, ensuring fairness, safety, and compliance across our network and our Prosecutions Team is at the heart of holding individuals accountable when offences occur.

Eight times accredited as a Top Employer, and Gold accredited for Inclusive Employers, we value our people and are dedicated to making sure that everybody feels empowered to bring their authentic self to work.

We want to proactively embrace diversity across our workforce and recognize that we are under-represented in terms of females and ethnic minority groups. We’re therefore taking positive steps to promote a positive and inclusive culture; we welcome applications from those that identify with these groups to better represent our communities.

The Role

As a Solicitor in our Prosecutions team, you will play a crucial role in overseeing our legal casework related to fare evasion, anti-social behaviour, and other offences under the Railway Byelaws, Regulation of Railways Act, Fraud Act, and associated legislation.

You will manage all aspects of prosecution activity, including making evidential and public interest assessments, leading legal proceedings under the Single Justice Procedure and Magistrates’ Court, and representing us in court as a Prosecutor. You’ll also provide legal advice and act as the subject matter expert within the Crime and Security Team to ensure our prosecution policy remains robust, compliant, and fit for purpose.

This is a key role that directly supports our ability to reduce fare evasion, promote a safe railway, and recover lost revenue helping to protect a crucial income stream that benefits the wider network.

Key Responsibilities

• Make key decisions on whether cases meet the evidential and public interest threshold to proceed with prosecution.
• Lead the listing and management of cases under the Single Justice Procedure or Magistrates’ Court for offences under various railway-related legislation.
• Represent us in court as the lead Prosecutor, including trials, sentencing hearings, and case management proceedings.
• Instruct Barristers to represent us in Crown Court cases where necessary.
• Draft and serve court documents in line with legislation and legal guidelines.
• Prepare statements and supporting documentation for hearings and trials to ensure evidential standards are met.
• Provide supervision and support to lay prosecutors within our network on all court-related matters.
• Maintain detailed records of court outcomes, legal costs, and compensation orders via our Case Management System.
• Act as a deputy to the Fraud & Prosecutions Manager, attending meetings and producing reports where required.
• Serve as the legal subject matter expert across the Crime and Security team, reviewing internal policy and procedures for compliance.
• Carry out civil recovery actions through County Court where necessary.
• Provide support to the Prosecution Administrators with case processing and ensure timely and accurate data entry.
• Promote sustainability by supporting our environmental commitments and acting in a sustainable manner in all work activities.

What are we looking for from the successful candidate?:

You’ll be a qualified Solicitor (with a current practising certificate) in England and Wales, with proven experience in criminal law, regulatory offences, or public prosecutions.

You’ll be confident managing your own caseload, making legal decisions, and presenting in court. Attention to detail, strong communication skills, and a passion for justice and compliance are essential. Experience in rail or transport law is desirable but not required.

This is a unique opportunity to play a high-impact role in safeguarding our revenue, ensuring public accountability, and promoting a safe and secure network.

What We Offer

As well as a competitive salary, we’ll also offer you:

• A great pension scheme
• Free first-class duty travel on our network
• Free standard-class leisure travel on our network and Train Operating Companies under Transport UK
• Friends and Family discounted tickets on our network
• 75% discount on national leisure travel (including partner and dependants)
• Flexible working hours
• 32 days holiday per year, increasing to 34 after 2 years
• …and many more!

We are open-minded to applications from people who wish to have flexible working. Many of our staff work flexibly in many different ways. Please talk to us at interview about the flexibility you need. We can’t promise to give you exactly what you want, but we do promise not to judge you for asking.

We welcome applicants from diverse backgrounds, we promote equal opportunities for all. We are a non-discriminatory employer committed to the recruitment and promotion of all on the basis of ability and merit irrespective of disability, race, gender, health, social class, sexual preference, marital status, nationality, religion, employment status or age. We’ll treat your application fairly and assess you for the job based on merit and skills.