Find a job 
Featured Companies 
Featured Universities 
For Companies At a Glance
- Tasks: Join a dynamic team to draft legal costs and support billing processes.
- Company: Top-tier law firm with a commitment to diversity and professional development.
- Benefits: Hybrid working, competitive salary, and opportunities for growth.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in the legal field while developing your skills.
- Qualifications: Experience in legal aid and strong drafting and negotiation skills.
- Other info: Inclusive culture with excellent career advancement opportunities.
The predicted salary is between 28800 - 43200 £ per year.
Duncan Lewis Solicitors (Ltd) is regulated by the Solicitor’s Regulation Authority and was founded in 1998, headquartered in the City of London with offices nationwide. We are recognised by the Legal 500 and Chambers & Partners UK independent legal directories as a top-tier law firm in all key practice areas. We are a paperless law firm with over 500 personnel that embraces hybrid-working, servicing both corporate entities and private individuals in over 25 areas of law across 60 languages.
We have been awarded Law Firm of the Year at the 2024 Lexis Nexis Awards and 2023 Modern Law Awards, reflecting our dedication to legal expertise and client service. We hold Investors in People Gold Standard accreditation for over 15 years, showcasing our commitment to professional development. Duncan Lewis is also Law Society Lexcel, Cyber Essentials Plus, and ISO 27001 certified, ensuring excellence in practice management and data security.
We are committed to recruiting dedicated and talented professionals and welcome applications from exceptional candidates. At Duncan Lewis, we value training and diversity, and we take pride in our inclusive workforce.
The ideal candidate will be joining an established team of Costs Lawyers/Draftspersons to assist and support the billing process and recovery to the legal profession. You will have strong technical knowledge and experience of drafting bills and excellent negotiation skills. The company is looking for Law Costs Draftsman with significant Legal Aid experience to 'hit the ground running'.
Main Responsibilities of the Role:
- Report directly to Manager
- Drafting/preparing inter parties bills of costs, costs budgets; and points of reply/dispute
- Drafting inter parties bills with Legal Aid element
- Drafting Claim1’s, 1a’s and VHCC/HCCP case
- Drafting of estimates of costs to accompany Allocation Questionnaires and Pre-Trial Checklists
- Negotiations of Bills including attendance at CCMC’s
- Overseeing the Issuing of the Notice of Commencement and associated documents
- Working to deadlines
- Attendance upon Detailed Assessment Hearing as and when necessary
- Providing technical/costs guidance to fee earners where required
- Assist members of the team to complete post-assessment work, with training and ad hoc queries
- Maintaining accurate time costing procedures
- Implementing any recommendations made by your supervisor following monthly meetings ensuring that these are dealt with promptly
- Ensuring compliance with file management
Key Skills Required:
- Being proactive
- A good academic background with a willingness to learn and self-develop
- Good communication skills to work effectively with all types of people
- Ability to draft an IP bill of costs (preferably with some LAA experience – 3 & 6 column bills)
- Ability to prepare costs budgets and have experience in the same
- Ability to draft schedule of costs and breakdowns
- Ability to negotiate
- Ability to draft Points of Reply
- Ability to work on their own and within a team
- Ability to risk assess
- Ability to provide sound advice to clients
- Ability to set matters down for assessment
- Have an understanding of Part 8 procedure
- Advocacy would be desired but not essential
- Work to achievable targets
- Familiar with Costs Master would be useful but not essential
- Have good MS Excel skills and Microsoft Office skills
- Ability to use own initiative and sound judgment
- Experience in own advocacy is an advantage
Junior Law Costs Draftsman – City of London & Nationwide employer: Duncan Lewis Solicitors
Contact Detail:
Duncan Lewis Solicitors Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Junior Law Costs Draftsman – City of London & Nationwide
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Get out there and connect with people in the legal field. Attend events, join online forums, or even hit up LinkedIn. The more people you know, the better your chances of landing that Junior Law Costs Draftsman role.
✨Tip Number 2
Practice your interview skills! Mock interviews can be a game changer. Grab a mate or use online resources to simulate the interview experience. This will help you feel more confident and ready to impress the hiring team at Duncan Lewis.
✨Tip Number 3
Show off your skills! Prepare a portfolio showcasing your drafting work and any relevant projects. This is your chance to demonstrate your technical knowledge and negotiation skills, which are key for the role.
✨Tip Number 4
Apply through our website! We love seeing applications directly from candidates who are genuinely interested in joining our team. Make sure to highlight your Legal Aid experience and how you can 'hit the ground running' in your application.
We think you need these skills to ace Junior Law Costs Draftsman – City of London & Nationwide
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV is tailored to the Junior Law Costs Draftsman role. Highlight your relevant experience, especially in drafting bills and Legal Aid work. We want to see how your skills match what we're looking for!
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to explain why you're passionate about this role and how you can contribute to our team. Keep it concise but impactful – we love a good story!
Show Off Your Skills: Don’t forget to showcase your negotiation skills and technical knowledge in your application. Mention any specific experiences that demonstrate your ability to draft costs budgets or handle inter parties bills. We’re keen to see what you bring to the table!
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the easiest way for us to receive your application and ensures you’re considered for the role. Plus, it shows you’re proactive – just what we like!
How to prepare for a job interview at Duncan Lewis Solicitors
✨Know Your Legal Costs Inside Out
Make sure you brush up on your knowledge of legal costs, especially regarding drafting bills and costs budgets. Familiarise yourself with the specific requirements for Legal Aid cases, as this will show that you're ready to hit the ground running.
✨Show Off Your Negotiation Skills
Prepare examples of past negotiations you've been involved in. Be ready to discuss how you approached these situations and what the outcomes were. This will demonstrate your ability to handle the negotiation aspect of the role effectively.
✨Be Proactive and Engaged
During the interview, show your proactive nature by asking insightful questions about the team and the firm's approach to costs management. This not only shows your interest but also your willingness to contribute positively to the team.
✨Demonstrate Teamwork and Independence
Be prepared to discuss how you balance working independently while also being a team player. Share specific examples of how you've collaborated with others in the past, as well as times when you've taken the initiative on your own.
