Senior Costs Draftsperson / Costs Lawyer
Location:London
Salary:Competitive, up to £60,000
Employment Type:Full-time
Our client is a highly regarded, specialist family law firm with offices in London and an established national and international reputation. The firm advises on a broad range of complex family law matters, representing high-net-worth and international clients alongside legally aided clients.
We are seeking an experienced Senior Costs Draftsperson / Costs Lawyer to join the firm's finance team. This is an excellent opportunity for a confident costs professional who enjoys working in a fast-paced, high-performing environment and is looking for a role with significant responsibility and autonomy.
The Role
You will manage your own costs caseload and provide specialist costs support and advice to fee earners and the wider billing team. You will also play an important role in ensuring compliance, maintaining high standards of file management and supporting colleagues through training and guidance.
Key Responsibilities
- Drafting a range of legal aid claims and bills, including high-cost case plans.
- Preparing inter partes bills of costs and schedules of costs.
- Preparing Points of Reply.
- Preparing and advising on costs budgets.
- Negotiating the settlement of costs with opposing parties.
- Handling costs matters from inception through to completion.
- Providing specialist costs advice and support to fee earners and the billing team.
- Supporting training and ensuring appropriate compliance with file management procedures.
- Liaising and negotiating with the Legal Aid Agency (LAA) where required.
About You
The successful candidate will have:
- At least 3 years' experience working as a Costs Draftsperson or Costs Lawyer, either in-house or within a specialist costs drafting firm.
- Strong experience of both privately funded and legally aided work.
- In-depth knowledge and practical experience of all levels of legal aid funding, from Legal Help through to full certificates.
- Experience of fixed-fee schemes and applying enhancements and appropriate rates under the legal aid scheme.
- Proven experience preparing high-cost case plans and negotiating with the LAA.
- A strong understanding of the operation of the statutory charge.
- Excellent IT skills and experience using costs drafting software, such as CostsMaster.
- Experience managing your own costs caseload from start to finish.
- Experience of contested costs assessments would be advantageous.
- Excellent communication skills and a high level of attention to detail.
- Up-to-date knowledge of LAA costs assessment guidance, the CPR, relevant legislation and case law.
- The ability to work independently with minimal supervision while meeting deadlines and targets.
The Opportunity
This is a great opportunity to join a respected specialist law firm where your expertise will be valued and where you will have the opportunity to take ownership of a varied and technically interesting costs caseload.
The ideal candidate will be committed, organised and commercially minded, with the ability to remain calm and effective in a demanding environment. You will be someone who takes pride in producing high-quality work, enjoys working collaboratively and is motivated by delivering excellent results.
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Senior Costs Draftsman/ Costs Lawyer employer: Clayton Legal
Join a highly regarded Legal 500-ranked law firm in Liverpool, where you will thrive in a collaborative and commercially focused environment. With a strong emphasis on professional development and a supportive team culture, this role offers an excellent opportunity for career progression while managing a diverse caseload of quality residential property matters. Enjoy the benefits of hybrid working, competitive salary, and the chance to build lasting relationships with clients in a firm known for its loyal client base and high-value transactions.
