Costs Draftsman (Costs Lawyer/Law Costs Draftsman)
Location: Leeds City Centre
Salary: £35,000 to £55,000
Experience: Costs drafting experience (claimant and/or defendant work)
Our client is looking to recruit a Costs Draftsman (Costs Lawyer/Law Costs Draftsman) to join a growing Costs team on a full-time, permanent basis in Leeds City Centre.
This is a great opportunity for someone who enjoys technical costs work and wants to build a varied caseload across a range of civil claims. You will be supported by admin resource, allowing you to focus on drafting, analysis and negotiation.
What You’ll Be Doing
Over time, the role is expected to involve managing a diverse caseload of costs matters, including:
- Drafting bills of costs
- Negotiating settlements
- Preparing budgets and dealing with points of dispute
The work is expected to include a mix of:
- Claimant clinical negligence
- Personal injury
- Inquest matters
- Professional negligence
- Historic sexual abuse claims
- Some defendant housing disrepair matters
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
- Analysing costs offers and preparing advice on costs issues
- Undertaking costs negotiations
- Prioritising tasks and meeting deadlines across a varied caseload
- Using a case management system and maintaining strong IT standards
- Liaising with clients, solicitors and other legal professionals
What We’re Looking For
- Experience as a Costs Lawyer and/or Law Costs Draftsman
- Degree-level education or comparable work experience
- Excellent attention to detail and strong analytical skills
- Proactive approach and willingness to learn
- Good IT skills, including Microsoft Word and Excel
What’s On Offer
- Salary of £35,000 to £55,000 (dependent on experience)
- Varied costs caseload with a mix of claimant and defendant work
- Admin support to enable you to focus on drafting and negotiation
- 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 year’s employment
- Enhanced maternity and paternity pay after 2 years’ employment
- 24/7 employee assistance programme, including counselling support
- Paycare health cash plan (employee paid contributions)
- Discounted bus travel and interest-free loan for an annual train or bus pass
- Professional membership/subscription support
- Free conveyancing on your main residential property after 1 year’s employment
- A free will after 1 year’s employment
- Regular social events
Working Arrangements
- Full-time, permanent
- Leeds City Centre
Next Steps
Apply online or send your CV to lee.hawthorne-finch@h-fts.com or call 0333 996 2882 for more information.
All applications will be treated in the strictest confidence. We will always obtain your express permission before sharing your details with our client.
#J-18808-Ljbffr…