Costs Advocate - Costs Health in Liverpool

Hill Dickinson LLP is a leading and award-winning international commercial law firm with offices in Birmingham, Hong Kong, Leeds, Limassol, Liverpool, London, Manchester, Monaco, Newcastle, Piraeus and Singapore. With more than 1000 people including 200 partners and legal directors, the firm delivers advice and strategic guidance spanning the full legal spectrum, from non-contentious advisory and transactional work to all forms of commercial litigation.

Hill Dickinson acts as a trusted adviser to a wide portfolio of clients across a range of specialist sectors: from transport and logistics and international trade, through to retail, insurance, marine, health, education, manufacturing, public sector and banking and financial services.

Hours: Monday to Friday, 09:00 - 17:30 (37.5 hours per week)

Hill Dickinson are proud to be named as a Top Ten Employer for Working Families 2024 and are happy to consider flexible working opportunities to help you balance your work and home life.

Location: Liverpool

Benefits: At Hill Dickinson we understand that incentives go far beyond a good salary, so we have created a comprehensive benefits package tailored around our people. Here are some examples of what we offer:

• Annual leave starting at 25 days
• Annual bonus scheme
• Birthday privilege day and Christmas shutdown
• Holiday buy, sell and carryover scheme
• 2 charity volunteering or pro bono days
• Optional private medical insurance via BUPA
• Annual fitness allowance
• Flexible pension scheme
• ISA saving scheme and independent financial advice
• Electric or hybrid vehicle lease scheme
• Medicash EAP with access to counselling
• Enhanced family leave policies
• Access to confidential, expert support via Fertifa in relation to reproductive health and wellbeing
• Access to 10 days fully subsidised emergency or back-up care per year via Bright Horizons
• Life assurance
• Group income protection
• Annual travel season ticket loan
• Hybrid working and dress for your day policy
• Bespoke training and development opportunities
• Financial contribution towards home working equipment

Role overview: Our dedicated Costs department is now looking to recruit a Costs Advocate to join our rapidly growing team. The Costs Team consists of experienced costs litigation professionals based across Liverpool, Manchester and London. With extensive experience of dealing with high value costs litigation, costs budgeting, appeals, group litigation and technical challenges, our experienced advocates regularly attend national court hearings across the country. The costs team is part of the Health Business Group and is undergoing rapid expansion providing opportunities for personal development.

Key responsibilities:

• Advocate in court on costs-related matters
• Advocacy at CCMCs
• Prepare and advise on costs budgets
• Preparation of precedent R and precedent T
• Ensure compliance with court deadlines and budgeting rules
• Negotiate between the parties in respect of budgets
• Advise clients in respect of budgeting matters

What are we looking for:

Important criteria:

• Qualified Solicitor/Costs Lawyer or Cilex with higher rights of audience status
• Previous advocacy experience and be fully aware of Court processes and procedures

It would be beneficial for you to have some of the following:

• Experience of advocacy at CCMCs
• Experience of working in a targeted environment
• Organises own work effectively
• Seeks and accepts feedback and guidance
• Works flexibly to meet goals
• Competently follows agreed processes/methods
• Good team working skills
• Excellent communication skills, both written and oral
• Demonstrates understanding of client needs/expectations
• Proficient in Microsoft Word, Excel and Outlook

If you don't meet all of the criteria above but feel that you could add real value to Hill Dickinson, we encourage you to submit an application and if successful, we can help you develop along the way.

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion: Hill Dickinson is committed to providing fairness and equal opportunity for all regardless of age, gender, gender identity, ethnic origin, disability, sexual orientation, marital or transgender status, nationality, religion or belief. We understand that our power as a firm comes from empowering our people and that it is only by encouraging and enabling individuals to be themselves at work that we can truly benefit from their rich and varied strengths. Hill Dickinson is an equal opportunities employer. All applications received by the firm will be considered based on their merit alone and we welcome applications from all suitably qualified individuals regardless of background and from all routes to qualification, with both the SRA and CILEx.

Disability Support: We are a Disability Confident employer, which means if there is anything that we can do to make your visit easier, so you are able to perform at your best, please let us know. You can contact the HR team at hrteam@hilldickinson.com should you require any adjustments to the application or interview process.

At Hill Dickinson, we welcome applications from individuals that are looking to return to the law as well as all routes to qualification, with both the SRA and CILEx. All successful candidates will be subject to our standard pre-employment screening, including a basic criminal record check via Disclosure and Barring Service. Any offer of employment made is conditional upon completion of all checks. Due to the high response levels we receive for some vacancies, we may expire any of them prior to the advertised closing date and advise you to submit your application as soon as possible.