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- Tasks: Manage diverse cost matters, draft bills, negotiate settlements, and prepare budgets.
- Company: Join Ison Harrison Solicitors, a 100% employee-owned law firm in Leeds.
- Benefits: Enjoy profit sharing, generous holiday, health insurance, and professional development opportunities.
- Other info: Dynamic work environment with excellent career growth and regular social events.
- Why this job: Be part of a supportive team making a real impact in legal costs management.
- Qualifications: Experience as a Costs Lawyer or Draftsman, with strong analytical skills.
The predicted salary is between 35000 - 45000 £ per year.
Ison Harrison Solicitors, the Yorkshire Law Firm, employs 450+ people across 25 offices. We are 100% employee-owned, so each employee has a part to play in shaping the future of the firm. Employee-ownership also means that profit share payments are distributed, tax-free, to employees with 12+ months service at the end of our financial year. Employees are encouraged to join in, influence and benefit.
Our values are: 100%; Responsible; Supportive; Adaptable; Open & Transparent; Progressive; Community and Authentic. These values are at the heart of everything we do, when dealing with both clients and colleagues.
We are recruiting for a Costs Lawyer/Law Costs Draftsman to join our growing Costs team on a full-time basis at our Head Office, in Leeds City Centre.
Role Description: This is a full-time role for a Costs Lawyer/ Law Costs Draftsman at Ison Harrison Solicitors our Duke House office in Leeds. The role will eventually involve managing a diverse caseload of various cost matters including drafting bills of costs, negotiating settlements, preparing budgets and points of dispute. The costs work consists of Claimant clinical negligence, personal injury, inquest, professional negligence and historic sexual abuse claims along with some Defendant housing disrepair matters. Ison Harrison are the incumbent winners of the Yorkshire Legal Awards best Clinical Negligence, Inquest and Personal Injury teams and you can expect to work on good quality cases. The team works for both internal and external clients, supporting fee earners in managing cost issues proactively, ensuring compliance with procedural rules and funding requirements. The team benefits from admin support to enable you to focus on drafting and negotiating.
Key Responsibilities:
- Preparation of traditional three-column Bills of Costs.
- Preparation of Precedent S Bills of Costs and Precedent H documents.
- Preparation of Points of Dispute and Replies to Points of Dispute.
- Analysis of costs offers, preparing advice on costs issues, and undertaking costs negotiations.
- Flexibility and adaptability in handling a varied caseload, prioritising tasks, and meeting deadlines.
- Good IT skills and use of a case management system.
- Liaising with clients, solicitors, and other legal professionals.
The Ideal Candidate Will Have:
- Experience as a Costs Lawyer/ Law Costs Draftsman.
- Degree education or comparative work experience.
- Excellent attention to detail and strong analytical skills.
- A proactive approach and a willingness to learn.
- Good knowledge of IT systems, including Microsoft Word and Excel.
Salary: Dependant on skills and experience. Please include your current salary and salary expectations within your application.
Location: Duke House, 54 Wellington Street, Leeds LS12EE
Job Type: Full-time, Permanent
Benefits: Our range of benefits includes:
- Profit sharing scheme (tax-free on payments up to £3,600 per year), subject to 12+ months employment at the end of the calendar year.
- Holiday entitlement starting at 23 days, increasing to 26 days after 1 year and 31 days after 5 years service (pro-rata for part-time employees).
- Salary sacrifice pension scheme (subject to HMRC eligibility) with 5% Employer contributions.
- Death in Service Life Assurance (3 times salary).
- Private Health Insurance after 1 years employment.
- Enhanced maternity pay after 2 years employment.
- Enhanced paternity pay after 2 years employment.
- 24/7 Employee Assistance Programme to support health & wellbeing, including free counselling for employees, family members (household) and their dependants.
- Paycare Health Cash Plan to help with the cost of optical, dental and other health expenses for employees and their dependants (employee paid contributions).
- Discounted bus travel.
- Payroll giving scheme for tax-free charitable donations.
- £1,000.00 finders fee for new employee recruitment referrals.
- Professional membership/subscription support.
- Interest-free loan for annual train or bus pass.
- Free conveyancing on your main residential property after 1 years employment.
- A free will after 1 years employment.
- Regular social events including summer BBQ and a Christmas party.
- Annual business briefing for the whole firm.
Equal Opportunities: Ison Harrison is an equal opportunities employer and does not discriminate on any grounds other than the ability to carry out the job specification.
Costs Draftsman employer: Ison Harrison Limited
Contact Detail:
Ison Harrison Limited Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Costs Draftsman
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to people in the legal field, especially those who work in costs law. Attend events, join online forums, and don’t be shy about asking for informational interviews. You never know who might have a lead on your dream job!
✨Tip Number 2
Show off your skills! Prepare a portfolio showcasing your best work related to costs drafting. This could include examples of bills of costs or points of dispute you've prepared. When you get that interview, having tangible proof of your abilities can really set you apart.
✨Tip Number 3
Be proactive! Don’t just wait for job openings to pop up. Reach out directly to firms like Ison Harrison Solicitors and express your interest in joining their team. A well-timed email can sometimes lead to opportunities that aren’t even advertised yet.
✨Tip Number 4
Keep it real during interviews! Be authentic and let your personality shine through. Firms like Ison Harrison value community and authenticity, so don’t hesitate to share your passion for costs law and how you align with their values.
We think you need these skills to ace Costs Draftsman
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application: Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter for the Costs Draftsman role. Highlight your relevant experience and skills that align with the job description, especially your attention to detail and analytical abilities.
Showcase Your Experience: Don’t just list your previous jobs; explain how your past roles have prepared you for this position. Mention specific cases or projects you've worked on that relate to costs law, as this will show us you’re ready to hit the ground running.
Be Clear and Concise: When writing your application, keep it straightforward and to the point. Use clear language and avoid jargon unless it's relevant. We appreciate a well-structured application that’s easy to read!
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to submit your application through our website. It’s the best way for us to receive your details and ensures you’re considered for the role. Plus, it shows you’re keen to join our team!
How to prepare for a job interview at Ison Harrison Limited
✨Know Your Costs Inside Out
Make sure you brush up on your knowledge of costs law and the specific responsibilities of a Costs Draftsman. Familiarise yourself with drafting bills of costs, negotiating settlements, and preparing budgets. This will show that you're not just interested in the role but also understand the intricacies involved.
✨Align with Their Values
Ison Harrison Solicitors pride themselves on their values: Responsible, Supportive, Adaptable, Open & Transparent, Progressive, Community, and Authentic. Think about how your personal values align with theirs and be ready to share examples of how you've demonstrated these traits in your previous roles.
✨Prepare for Practical Scenarios
Expect to face practical questions or scenarios during the interview. Prepare by thinking through how you would handle various cost matters, such as drafting points of dispute or analysing costs offers. Practising these scenarios can help you articulate your thought process clearly.
✨Show Off Your IT Skills
Since good IT skills are essential for this role, be prepared to discuss your experience with case management systems and software like Microsoft Word and Excel. You might even want to mention any specific projects where you used these tools effectively to manage costs or improve efficiency.