Cost Draftsman and Billing Jobs, Vacancies
Careers Senior Inter Partes Costs Draftsman – Costs Lawyer (x2) Vacancies
The Role
The ideal candidate will join a well‑established national team of experienced Costs Lawyers and Costs Draftsmen, supporting the full lifecycle of the billing and recovery process for a wide range of legal‑sector clients. The senior position requires strong technical expertise, excellent drafting ability, and confident negotiation skills.
Main Responsibilities of the Role
- Reporting directly to the Manager and contributing to team‑wide performance
- Drafting and preparing inter‑partes bills of costs, costs budgets, and points of reply/dispute
- Drafting inter‑partes bills with Legal Aid element
- Drafting Claim 1, 1a, and VHCC/HCCP cases
- Drafting estimates of costs to accompany Allocation Questionnaires and Pre‑Trial Checklists
- Conducting negotiations on bills, including attendance at CCMCs
- Overseeing the issuing of Notice of Commencement and associated documents
- Working to deadlines
- Attending Detailed Assessment Hearings as required
- Providing technical / cost guidance to fee earners where needed
- Assisting junior team members with post‑assessment work, training and ad‑hoc queries
- Maintaining accurate time‑costing procedures
- Implementing supervisory recommendations promptly
- Ensuring full compliance with file management and internal quality standards
- Contributing to internal training and ongoing development of cost management processes
Key Skills Required
- Minimum three years legal experience in Costs Law, drafting legal aid and inter‑partes bills and applying civil procedure rules relating to costs
- Ability to draft an IP bill of costs (preferably with LAA experience)
- Experience preparing costs budgets
- Ability to draft schedules of costs and breakdowns
- Negotiation and points of reply drafting skills
- Independent work and teamwork capability
- Risk assessment skills
- Sound client advice
- Setting matters down for assessment
- Understanding of Part 8 procedure
- Advocacy desirable but not essential
- Target‑driven and proactive attitude
- Familiarity with Costs Master useful
- Good MS Excel and Microsoft Office skills
- Sound judgement and initiative
- Advocacy experience an advantage
Why Join Us
- A supportive, knowledgeable team that values expertise and encourages growth
- Opportunities to mentor, lead, and shape best practice within the department
- Chance to work on high‑quality, complex matters that stretch your skills
- Clear pathways for progression within a respected national Costs team
Equal Opportunities
Duncan Lewis is committed to Equal Opportunities and embraces diversity of its staff. We guarantee an interview for candidates who disclose a disability and meet the essential requirements for the role.
Background checks including CRB/DBS checks will be conducted to assess eligibility to work in the UK and suitability to the role.
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