Law Costs Draftsperson – Public Law & Community Care Judicial Review Department – Nottingham

Law Costs Draftsperson – Nottingham

We are currently recruiting for an experienced Law Costs Draftsperson to work in our Public Law & Community Care Judicial Review Department. The successful candidate would be based at our Nottingham Office and would support our Public Law & Community Care Judicial Review Department.

Nottingham office – Public Law & Community Care Judicial Review Department

Full time – Monday – Friday, 9am – 5.30pm (office based)

Salary – Above market rate – subject to experience

Job Specification

• Costing and billing of legal aid files to include Legal Helps, Payments on Account, Final Legal Aid Claims.
• Costing and dealing with Inter-Partes costs claims (including risk assessing, drafting replies to points of dispute and negotiating settlement with the paying party)
• Lodging bills at Court for assessment.
• Preparing Schedules of Costs
• Fully conversant with CCMS and legal aid systems. Uploading documents onto CCMS in a timely manner as per LAA requests.
• Preparing, negotiating and agreeing High Cost Case Plans
• All aspects of cost recovery, including legal aid appeals.
• Dealing with any rejected claims.
• Awareness of and aptitude to meet Legal Aid KPI’s
• Ensuring compliance with Legal Aid rules and internal office policy
• Liaising with Counsel’s Chambers in order to obtain fee notes for billing purposes.
• Liaising with fee earners and addressing any concerns which may be identified whilst preparing a bill
• Undertaking other clerical and administrative duties as may be reasonably required from time to time.

Personal Specification

• A Costs Lawyer Professional Qualification or equivalent qualification.
• Experience of drafting both Inter Partes and Legal Aid bills.
• Competent cost drafting skills.
• Competent negotiating skills.
• Good oral and written communication skills.
• High level of numeracy and accuracy when dealing with figures.
• Ability to work under pressure and process a high volume of claims accurately.
• Ability to work in a team environment and autonomously, proactively managing your own caseload.
• Experience of using Case Management Systems.

Knowledge

• Knowledge and understanding of Legal Aid Agency rules relating to assessment and recovery of solicitor’s costs in publicly funded files.
• An understanding of the rules governing Inter Partes bill preparation.
• Court rules for lodging bills.
• Court costs assessment procedures.
• Basic Accounting Principles.
• Experience of costing Judicial Review files (preferred)