At a Glance
- Tasks: Negotiate costs and prepare cases for assessment in a dynamic legal environment.
- Company: Join Express Solicitors, a top-rated personal injury law firm with a collaborative culture.
- Benefits: Enjoy hybrid working, generous holiday, private medical insurance, and a vibrant social scene.
- Other info: Be part of a growing team with a focus on client care and professional development.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in the legal field while developing your career with excellent training opportunities.
- Qualifications: 2-5 years of experience in costs claims and strong communication skills required.
The predicted salary is between 30000 - 40000 £ per year.
Location: Sharston, M22 4SN
Salary: £30,000 to £40,000 per annum, dependent on experience
Job type: Full time, Permanent
About Us: Established in 2000, Express Solicitors is an award winning, no win no fee law firm specialising exclusively in personal injury claims. Headquartered in Manchester, we support clients nationwide across all areas of personal injury, including employers' liability, serious injury, clinical negligence, occupiers' and public liability, road traffic accidents and industrial disease. We are ranked 64th in The Lawyer UK Top 200, out of more than 10,000 law firms nationwide, and after achieving a 20% year on year growth, Express Solicitors are the largest personal injury claimant firm in the UK. Our commitment to outstanding client care is reflected in our Trustpilot rating of 4.8 (Excellent), placing us among the highest rated firms in the sector.
About the Role: We are currently looking for a Cost Negotiator to join our established costs department of 40 plus. The position will involve handling a fixed costs caseload reviewing inter partes disputes, developing persuasive arguments making offers, negotiating settlement and preparing cases for summary and detailed assessment.
The role involves:
- Reporting to supervisor in weekly review meetings.
- Working to a caseload, WIP and fee target.
- Reviewing and negotiating fixed costs cases.
- Drafting letters, Costs Schedules, Part 23 Applications and Part 8 Proceedings.
- Skeleton arguments and written submissions.
- Liaising with fee earners and management.
- Providing assistance to other team members as and when required.
Responsibilities:
- Progressive Management of a caseload.
- Securing payments on account of costs at the earliest opportunity.
- Ensure that the quality of work produced is to the highest standard.
- Reviewing costs schedules/bills with a view to negotiating Claimants costs, generally disputed fixed costs cases, and settling costs files in a timely manner.
- Negotiating settlement of costs and reporting terms of settlement.
- Preparing bills/Part 23 Applications and/or Replies to Points of Dispute in fixed costs cases.
- Drafting Part 8 and Part 23 Proceedings.
- Preparing cases for assessment hearings.
- Attending costs hearings where appropriate.
- Provide technical support to the costs team on fixed costs disputes.
- Maintaining the highest client care and service standards.
Person Specification:
- A good working knowledge of fixed costs claims and the costs process.
- A good working knowledge of CPR Cost related procedures, Pre-Action Protocols, and case law for fixed costs disputes.
- 2 to 5 years' experience of case handling and working to target.
- Ability to deal with advocacy at costs hearings on fixed costs matters (not essential but desirable).
- Good commercial awareness and a professional attitude.
- Ability to work to time scales and cope under pressure.
- Excellent communication skills and ability to work within a team.
- Excellent time management skills.
- Good IT skills, experience of Proclaim, Excel and Cost Master is desirable.
The role also offers excellent career development prospects for the right candidate, as the firm offers training contracts or support through the ACL qualification, for those candidates who prove themselves.
Salary & Hours: Salary of £30,000 to £40,000, dependent on experience. Our standard working hours are 8:30am to 5:30pm Monday-Thursday and 8:30am to 5pm Friday.
Benefits:
- Hybrid working - Flexible hybrid working pattern.
- 23 days of holiday - Rising to 26 days, plus bank/public holidays.
- Extra Holidays - 3 holiday buy backs and an extra day for your birthday after service length requirement.
- Looking After Your Health - Private medical insurance available after 2 years' service, annual flu jab and Employee Assistance Programme.
- Looking After Your Well-being - 24/7 onsite Gym, Netball/Football team, 10km Manchester team and more.
- Work Life / Balance - Active social committee with generous departmental and firm-wide social budget.
Recruitment Process: Interviews will be conducted by MS Teams and will include scenario-based questioning. Our employees are our most important asset, we rate skill and ability above all else and our recruitment policy encourages applications from all. Please click APPLY to be redirected to our website to complete your application.
Candidates with the relevant experience or job titles of; Costs Draftsperson, Costs Draftsman, Legal Executive, Costs Lawyer, Costs Solicitor will also be considered for this role.
Costs Draftsperson in Manchester employer: EXPRESS SOLICITORS
Express Solicitors is an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic work environment in Sharston, where employees are valued as the firm's most important asset. With a strong commitment to professional development, including support for ACL qualifications and a flexible hybrid working model, we ensure our team enjoys a healthy work-life balance alongside competitive benefits such as private medical insurance and generous holiday allowances. Join us in our mission to provide outstanding client care while being part of the largest personal injury claimant firm in the UK, recognised for our excellence and growth.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Costs Draftsperson in Manchester
✨Tip Number 1
Get to know the company inside out! Research Express Solicitors, their values, and recent achievements. This will help you tailor your conversations during interviews and show that you're genuinely interested in being part of their team.
✨Tip Number 2
Practice makes perfect! Prepare for scenario-based questions by thinking through potential challenges you might face as a Costs Draftsperson. Role-play with a friend or use online resources to sharpen your responses.
✨Tip Number 3
Network like a pro! Connect with current employees on LinkedIn or attend industry events. Building relationships can give you insider tips and even a foot in the door when applying through our website.
✨Tip Number 4
Follow up after your interview! A quick thank-you email can leave a lasting impression. It shows your enthusiasm for the role and keeps you fresh in their minds as they make their decision.
We think you need these skills to ace Costs Draftsperson in Manchester
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application:Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter for the Costs Draftsperson role. Highlight your experience with fixed costs claims and any relevant skills that match the job description. We want to see how you fit into our team!
Show Off Your Skills:Don’t hold back on showcasing your communication and negotiation skills in your application. These are key for the role, so give us examples of how you've used them in past experiences. We love a good story!
Be Professional Yet Personable:While we appreciate professionalism, don’t be afraid to let your personality shine through. We’re looking for someone who can work well in a team and maintain high client care standards, so show us who you are!
Apply Through Our Website:Remember to apply directly through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets to us quickly and efficiently. Plus, it shows you’re keen on joining our fantastic team at Express Solicitors!
How to prepare for a job interview at EXPRESS SOLICITORS
✨Know Your Costs Inside Out
Make sure you brush up on your knowledge of fixed costs claims and the costs process. Familiarise yourself with CPR Cost related procedures and Pre-Action Protocols, as these are likely to come up during the interview. Being able to discuss relevant case law will also show that you're serious about the role.
✨Prepare for Scenario-Based Questions
Since the interviews will include scenario-based questioning, think about potential situations you might face in the role. Prepare examples from your past experience where you've successfully negotiated settlements or handled disputes. This will help you demonstrate your problem-solving skills and ability to work under pressure.
✨Show Off Your Communication Skills
Excellent communication is key in this role, so be ready to showcase your skills. Practice articulating your thoughts clearly and confidently. You might even want to prepare a few questions to ask the interviewers about their team dynamics or how they handle client care, which will show your interest in the firm.
✨Highlight Your Team Spirit
Express Solicitors values teamwork, so make sure to highlight your ability to work collaboratively. Share examples of how you've supported colleagues in the past or contributed to a team project. This will demonstrate that you're not just a great individual contributor but also a team player who can thrive in their established costs department.
