Solicitor (Civil Litigation)

Job Introduction

Grade: C001

Salary: £61,337.60 per annum with yearly increments based on performance.

Contract Type: Permanent

Location: To be based either London or Leeds. London Allowance of £4613.61 is payable to London based candidates.

Type of Working Arrangement: Blended approach of home and office-working is available with 2 days required in the office and occasions to travel across the British Transport Police (BTP) 3 nation footprint.

Hours:  37 hours per week

British Transport Police (BTP) is the national police force for the rail network throughout Great Britain. We are the Guardians of the Railway,’ putting passenger safety at the heart of what we do. Our values are simply: We Care, We Do the Right Thing, We Strive to Be Better Every Day, We Are One BTP, and We Are Proud to Protect. Join us and help create an environment where we can all be our best every day.

The Opportunity:

 Are you looking for your next exciting career move? British Transport Police have an excellent opportunity for a Solicitor (Civil Litigation) to join the Deputy Chief Constable Command Group.   

The successful candidate will lead the legal services team and develop, implement and manage the claims process and performance of all parties involved to ensure efficient and effective handling of all claims by and against the Force.  The Solicitor will investigate, conduct, defend and negotiate the settlement of claims by and against the Force.  Additionally, the job holder will review and delegate claim requests between the Claims Handler taking into consideration complexity, team capacity and high-profile case / potential reputational risk to BTP

What you'll be doing:

• Lead the Legal Services Team and decision making on which claims are managed in-house, and which claims need to be handled externally due to capacity, capability, or for high profile / complex cases, liaising with the Legal Practice Manager. 
• Manage proceedings on behalf of the Organisation, instructing solicitors, counsel and others as required to minimise financial liabilities and develop and maintain procedures to comply with all relevant legislation and regulations regarding claims.
• To limit civil claims by proactive effective management providing strategic and practical operational advice liaising with the Force insurers, loss adjusters and appointed solicitors and raising awareness throughout the Force of good and poor practice and the impact of civil claims upon Force resources and morale.  
• Provide specialist advice and guidance to departments on all claims related matters including settlement of liability claims to maintain a consistent approach and minimise financial and reputational damage. Advise on any legal implications for Force policies, procedures and guidance documents and attend court, civil hearings, and case conferences as required on behalf of BTP.
• Work with the Legal Practice Manager regarding any potential training needs identified and assist with any development of training where required.
• Manage relationships and the performance, undertaking audits as necessary, of all claims handers, solicitors, insurers and others ensuring all claims are dealt with in the best interests of BTP/A.
• Implement controls to ensure fraud indicators are monitored and investigated as necessary to prevent damage to the organisation. 

What you'll bring to the team: 

• The job holder must be qualified, practicing solicitor or barrister and must hold a valid Practicing Certificate for England and Wales, preferably specialising in Civil litigation or will have current unrestricted Practicing Certificate from the Law Society of Scotland.
• Proven experience of evaluating, negotiating, and settling claims, covering liability and quantum of both injury and damage
• Proven experience as a claims professional either from an in-house claims team or insurer claims department
• Proven experience of investigating, designing, and developing policy, processes, and procedures for both technical and lay use.
• Experience of using a case management system and knowledge of Inquests/Processes/Coroners Act
• Proven technical claims management skills and competence.
• Ability to realistically reserve to meet Insurer’s Claims Handling Agreement Proven ability to deal with complaints and identify a preferred solution for both parties without compromising BTP's reputation.
• Ability to manage large and complex claims with minimal intervention.
• Knowledge of the jurisdiction under the Railway Bylaws.
• A detailed understanding of legislation, case law and regulatory requirements in relation to liabilities, claims and litigation and civil court matters.
• To assist with the management of Police related inquests that represents the best interest of the force and its officers and also considering legal representation in all courts for public and private inquiries and hearings.
• Proven experience of effectively managing people 

What we offer:

• 28 days annual leave plus bank holidays, increasing to 30 days after 5 years.
• Family-friendly policies, including up to 26 weeks paid maternity and adoption leave.
• Bespoke benefits platform and Blue Light Card access.
• Salary sacrifice options for cycles, home technology, gym membership, and electric vehicles.
• Interest-free annual rail season ticket loan after 6 months. (Remove if FTC)
• Access to the Transport Benevolent Fund for health, welfare, and financial support.
• Development opportunities, including fully funded apprenticeships.
• Excellent Pension scheme:  We offer the BTP GPP Police Staff Pension Scheme, administered by Royal London. This group personal pension plan is available to all police staff and is a defined contribution scheme. It provides the flexibility to vary your pension contributions from 4.4% to 12% of your salary. For more information, visit the Royal London dedicated pension page or email us at Pension-Queries@btp.police.uk. Note: If you are an existing member of Police Staff in the RPS, your pension will not be affected.

Vetting: Successful applicants will be required to pass Security Clearance (5 years minimum UK residency required), including a full background and financial disclosure. For more information and Top Tips, please see attached document. 

Medical: We’ll ask for relevant health and medical history details to support employee wellbeing. 

References: We'll ask for references to cover the past 5 years.

Further information about this vacancy can be found in the attached job description.

How to apply:  Applications will be via an up-to-date CV and online application form, as part of this application please outline how your skills and experience demonstrate your suitability for the role.

Completed applications must be submitted by 11.59.20th October 2025

Inclusion & Diversity: 

At BTP, we are committed to fostering an inclusive workplace where everyone feels valued. We believe diversity drives innovation and better decision-making. Our roles are open to everyone, and we encourage applications from underrepresented groups, including Black, Asian, and minority ethnic candidates, women, LGBTQI+ individuals, people with disabilities, and those who are neurodiverse. As part of our commitment, we operate a ‘Disability Confident Scheme’ - all candidates who declare a disability and meet the essential criteria for the role will be offered an interview. 

For more information on Inclusion or the Disability Confident Scheme, please click the links Inclusion & Diversity Disability Confident Scheme

Join Us: 

Grow your career with us. We can’t wait to hear from you! See why BTP is right for you and click here for more information. For further information, please contact our Resourcing Team at RecruitmentTeam@btp.police.uk.