Find a job 
Featured Companies 
Featured Universities 
For Companies At a Glance
- Tasks: Join our litigation team to lead costs strategy and mentor junior members.
- Company: Mills & Reeve, a top 50 UK law firm with a supportive culture.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, extensive benefits, and opportunities for professional growth.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in legal costs while developing your skills in a dynamic environment.
- Qualifications: Experience as a Costs Lawyer or Solicitor with strong drafting and negotiation skills.
- Other info: Inclusive workplace with flexible arrangements and excellent career progression.
The predicted salary is between 36000 - 60000 ÂŁ per year.
Join our dynamic litigation team. Lead costs strategy, draft, negotiate, mentor, and grow with expert support and varied legal work.
The role
We are looking for a skilled and proactive Costs Lawyer, Solicitor or Chartered Legal Executive to join our Litigation Services Team (LST), supporting the firm's contentious work. Reporting to the Senior Costs Manager, Ged Courtney, and working closely with the Head of Legal Operations, Jodie Hosmer, you will lead on costs drafting and negotiations, supervise junior team members, and provide expert advice to lawyers and clients.
You will be involved in:
- Drafting Bills of Costs, N260s, Precedent H budgets and related documents
- Managing costs instructions from start to finish
- Advising on costs law, procedure and strategy
- Supporting training, development and business growth initiatives
The person
You will be a Costs Lawyer, Solicitor or Chartered Legal Executive with experience in a wide range of costs litigation and a knowledge of costs law and procedure. Your background and experience will include:
- A solid understanding of litigation.
- Good drafting skills in relation to preparation of Bills of Costs, N260, Precedent H Costs Budgets and their associated Precedents.
- Experience and confidence in inter partes costs negotiations.
- The ability to produce high quality written work in the form of client advice, Points of Dispute/Reply, written submissions etc.
- Whilst not essential, advocacy experience would be desirable.
- Managing own caseload to deadlines ensuring high quality work is produced.
- Supervising junior members for example costs draftspersons, paralegals and paralegal apprentices.
- Some experience around managing multiple stakeholders will be beneficial.
The activities
You will be working with and supporting the Head of Legal Operations and the Senior Costs Manager. It is envisaged activities will include, but not be limited to the below:
- Drafting costs precedents, such as Bills of Costs (both Precedent A and S), N260, Costs Budgets (Precedent H), Budget Discussion Reports (Precedent R) and Budget Variations (Precedent T).
- Conducting costs negotiations on behalf of paying and receiving parties “cradle to grave” i.e. dealing with costs instructions from inception up to Detailed Assessment and if necessary, any appeal.
- Providing ongoing and ad hoc costs advice to clients and internal lawyers in relation to costs procedure, law and strategy.
- Assisting with training and development of junior staff, internal lawyers and clients.
- Supporting with business development, the LST roadshows and growing the LST.
- Considering and offering new perspectives to the way in which the LST delivers services to all practice areas and clients.
- Attending client meetings and meetings with internal teams as appropriate.
- Collaborating with teams to identify process improvement opportunities.
The benefits
As you would expect, we offer a competitive salary and a wide range of benefits.
If we offer you a role, we will conduct comprehensive pre-employment screening. This screening will include, but is not limited to, a basic DBS, verification of your right to work, a three year employment history and a self-declaration to assess your character and suitability for the role. Full details of our pre-screening employment process are available upon request.
The firm
Mills & Reeve is centred on achieving more for clients, their businesses and the wider communities we serve. Our clients and their industries benefit from our knowledge and learning, and receive consistent experiences with no surprises. We tell them what they need to know when they need to know it. We build personal relationships, with advice individually tailored to individual need. And if clients need things we don’t offer, we draw on our network to give recommendations. Our 1,450 plus people and over 850 lawyers share one vision – achieving more for clients. By joining Mills & Reeve, you will have the chance to build your skills and experience within a firm that’s not only ranked in the top 50 UK law firms, but also one that truly values their people. We’re also ranked in The Sunday Times Best Places to Work list, and have been awarded Platinum Investors in People. Our mantra is “Achieve more. Together.”, which we feel embodies our purpose and is more than just a catchphrase!
Our values are the principles that help us fulfil our purpose. Our people shaped them and live them every day.
- We’re ambitious - We aim high, we embrace new ideas and we’re passionate about our work.
- We’re open - We communicate openly and honestly to build trust, and we do what’s right.
- We care - We’re committed to each other, our clients, our communities and the planet.
- We collaborate - We’re easy to work with, we offer help willingly and we get things done – together.
And finally
Everyone at Mills & Reeve brings a unique perspective and ideas to the team and we do everything we can to help each person to thrive. We’re committed to providing an inclusive and supportive working environment, are happy to consider flexible working arrangements, and want to achieve the right balance for both our people and the firm. We encourage everyone to ask if they feel they need any workplace adjustments, and will do our best to support with these.
Costs lawyer employer: Mills & Reeve LLP
Contact Detail:
Mills & Reeve LLP Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Costs lawyer
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the legal field, especially those who work in costs law. A friendly chat can lead to opportunities that aren’t even advertised yet.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by practising common questions related to costs law and litigation. We recommend role-playing with a friend or mentor to boost your confidence and refine your answers.
✨Tip Number 3
Showcase your expertise! Bring examples of your previous work, like Bills of Costs or successful negotiations, to the interview. This will demonstrate your skills and give you an edge over other candidates.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, we love seeing candidates who are proactive about their job search.
We think you need these skills to ace Costs lawyer
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application: Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter for the Costs Lawyer role. Highlight your experience in costs litigation and any relevant drafting skills, as this will show us you understand what we're looking for.
Show Off Your Skills: Don’t hold back on showcasing your drafting abilities! Include examples of Bills of Costs or N260s you've worked on. We want to see your high-quality written work, so make it shine!
Be Proactive: In your application, demonstrate your proactive approach to costs strategy and negotiations. Share instances where you've taken the lead or mentored others, as we value collaboration and growth within our team.
Apply Early!: We might close the vacancy early if we get enough applications, so don’t wait around! Head over to our website and submit your application as soon as you can to ensure you’re in the running.
How to prepare for a job interview at Mills & Reeve LLP
✨Know Your Costs Law Inside Out
Make sure you brush up on your knowledge of costs law and procedure before the interview. Be prepared to discuss specific cases or examples where you've successfully navigated costs negotiations, as this will show your expertise and confidence in the field.
✨Show Off Your Drafting Skills
Since drafting Bills of Costs and related documents is a key part of the role, bring along samples of your previous work if possible. This not only demonstrates your drafting skills but also gives you a chance to talk through your thought process and approach to complex documents.
✨Prepare for Stakeholder Management Questions
Expect questions about how you've managed multiple stakeholders in past roles. Think of specific examples where you successfully balanced competing interests and how you communicated effectively with different parties involved in costs litigation.
✨Demonstrate Your Mentoring Experience
As you'll be supervising junior team members, be ready to discuss your mentoring style and any experience you have in training others. Share examples of how you've helped develop junior staff and contributed to their growth within the team.
