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For Companies At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead costs strategy, draft documents, negotiate, and mentor within a dynamic litigation team.
- Company: Join Mills & Reeve, a firm focused on client success and community impact.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, diverse benefits, and flexible working arrangements.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in legal processes while growing your career with expert support.
- Qualifications: Strong understanding of litigation costs law and excellent drafting skills required.
- Other info: Inclusive environment that values unique perspectives and offers great career development opportunities.
The predicted salary is between 36000 - 60000 £ per year.
The role involves joining our dynamic litigation team. You will lead costs strategy, draft, negotiate, mentor, and grow with expert support and varied legal work. 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.
Responsibilities
- Draft Bills of Costs, N260s, Precedent H budgets and related documents
- Manage costs instructions from start to finish
- Advise on costs law, procedure and strategy
- Support training, development and business growth initiatives
- Conduct costs negotiations on behalf of paying and receiving parties from inception to Detailed Assessment and appeals
- Provide ongoing and ad-hoc costs advice to clients and internal lawyers
- Assist with training and development of junior staff, internal lawyers and clients
- Collaborate with teams to identify process improvement opportunities
- Attend client meetings and internal team meetings as appropriate
- Support business development and growth of the Litigation Services Team
Qualifications
- Strong understanding of litigation and costs law and procedure
- Excellent drafting skills for Bills of Costs, N260s, Precedent H budgets and associated precedents
- Experience and confidence in inter partes costs negotiations
- High-quality written work, including client advice, Points of Dispute/Reply and written submissions
- Advocacy experience desirable but not essential
- Ability to manage own caseload to deadlines and produce high-quality work
- Experience supervising junior members, such as costs draftspersons, paralegals and apprentices
- Experience managing multiple stakeholders beneficial
The benefits
We offer a competitive salary and a wide range of benefits.
Pre-employment screening
If we offer you a role, we will conduct comprehensive pre-employment screening, including 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.
The firm
Mills & Reeve is centred on achieving more for clients, their businesses and the wider communities we serve. Our values guide our purpose and our inclusive, supportive working environment.
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 encourage inclusive adjustments and flexible working arrangements.
Costs lawyer employer: Mills & Reeve
Contact Detail:
Mills & Reeve 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 litigation. A friendly chat can lead to opportunities that aren’t even advertised yet.
✨Tip Number 2
Show off your skills! Prepare a portfolio of your best work, including Bills of Costs and any successful negotiations. This will give potential employers a taste of what you can bring to their team.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice makes perfect! Get ready for interviews by rehearsing common questions related to costs law and your experience. The more comfortable you are, the better you'll perform when it counts.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people. Plus, we love seeing candidates who take the initiative!
We think you need these skills to ace Costs lawyer
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Off Your Drafting Skills: Since you'll be drafting Bills of Costs and other legal documents, make sure your application showcases your excellent drafting skills. Use clear, concise language and highlight any relevant experience you have in costs law.
Tailor Your Application: We want to see how you fit into our dynamic litigation team! Tailor your application to reflect the specific responsibilities mentioned in the job description, like managing costs instructions and conducting negotiations. This shows us you're proactive and understand what we're looking for.
Highlight Your Mentoring Experience: As a Costs Lawyer, you'll be supervising junior team members. Make sure to mention any mentoring or training experience you have. We love seeing candidates who are keen to help others grow and develop their skills!
Apply Through Our Website: Don't forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you’re considered for the role. Plus, it gives you a chance to explore more about our firm and values.
How to prepare for a job interview at Mills & Reeve
✨Know Your Costs Law Inside Out
Make sure you brush up on your understanding of costs law and procedure. Familiarise yourself with drafting Bills of Costs, N260s, and Precedent H budgets. Being able to discuss these confidently will show that you're the right fit for the role.
✨Showcase Your Negotiation Skills
Prepare examples of past inter partes costs negotiations you've handled. Be ready to discuss your strategies and outcomes. This will demonstrate your confidence and ability to manage costs instructions effectively.
✨Highlight Your Mentoring Experience
Since the role involves supervising junior team members, think of specific instances where you've mentored or trained others. Share how you supported their development and what impact it had on the team.
✨Be Ready to Discuss Process Improvements
The firm values collaboration and process improvement. Come prepared with ideas on how you could enhance efficiency within the Litigation Services Team. This shows initiative and a proactive mindset, which is exactly what they’re looking for.
