Legal Aid Costs Draftsperson / Lawyer - flexible location in Bradford

Legal Aid Costs Draftsperson / Lawyer - flexible location

About Us

Switalskis is an award-winning law firm, recently listed in The Sunday Times Best Places to Work for the third consecutive year.

Established in 1993 by Stephen Switalski, we began with a focus on child care law and criminal law from a single office in Wakefield.

Since then we’ve expanded to 12 locations employing approximately 400 people who provide a wide array of specialist legal services.

A career at Switalskis means being part of a firm that cares and is here for you.

We’re dynamic and progressive, and we never stand still.

Last year we were crowned Large Firm of the Year at The Yorkshire Legal Awards and named in the top 50 fastest growing companies in Yorkshire in the Yorkshire Growth Index.

The Role

We are looking for an experienced, commercially minded and motivated Legal Aid Costs Draftsperson or Costs Lawyer to join our Costs Department.

This is an excellent opportunity for someone with strong technical knowledge of legal aid billing, CCMS/SILAS and high costs work who is looking to work within a specialist and supportive environment.

You will play a key role in maximising recovery of legal aid costs across a varied caseload while providing expert advice on funding and legal aid costs issues.

This role provides the opportunity for growth and career progression in a supervisory role for the right candidate.

You will manage a broad range of legal aid costs matters including Care, Family, Court of Protection (Health & Welfare) and Crime from inception through to payment, delivering a comprehensive costs service across the lifecycle of a case.

While we welcome applicants with experience in these areas, full training can be provided if you do not have the full range of experience.

Key Responsibilities

• Advising on the scope and limitation of legal aid funding certificates.
• Maximising recovery of legal aid costs within the scope of the Legal Aid Agency contract with a commercial approach.
• Preparing and submitting claims through to receiving final payment notices – both fixed fee and exceptional claims.
• High Costs Case Plans for Court of Protection Health & Welfare matters.
• Events-based High Costs Case Plans for Care matters.
• Hourly rate high costs plans outside standard legal aid schemes.
• Advising fee earners and management teams on legal aid funding issues.
• Delivering (or assisting other team members) in training and development on legal aid costs and procedures.

This role offers flexible location options.

Our teams are based across Bradford, Doncaster and Huddersfield, and occasional visits to these locations may be required, especially for those requiring further training.

• What you'll bring
• Previous experience as a Costs Draftsman, Costs Lawyer or Legal Aid Costs Specialist.
• Strong working knowledge of CCMS.
• Legal Aid Agency procedures.
• Legal aid billing and funding.
• High cost case planning.
• Commercial approach to legal aid claims to maximise recovery.
• Experience handling Public Law, Private Family Law, Criminal and/or Mental Health claims.
• Excellent attention to detail and analytical skills.
• Strong communication and client care skills.
• The ability to manage a varied caseload independently and meet deadlines.

Benefits

• Annual Bonus.
• Paid Professional subscriptions.
• Long Service Award days – 1 for every 2 years of service (FTE).
• All Company equipment will be supplied for Hybrid working.
• Enhanced Maternity/Paternity and Adoption pay.
• Annual Bonus Scheme.
• Holiday Purchase and Sell back schemes.
• Group Insurances for Life Insurance, Critical Illness and Income Protection.
• Apprenticeship Funding for training and development.
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