Complex Injury Claims Junior Costs Negotiator

Keoghs; Newcastle upon Tyne; On-site; GBP 22,000 - 30,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Davies Incentive Plan

25 days holiday

Healthcare Cash Plan

WeCare – 24/7 online GP and wellbeing

Death In Service

Pension Contribution 5% Employee / 3%

Employee Resource Groups

Cycle to Work

Tech Scheme

Gym Flex

Discount Sites

Discounts at Merlin Attractions

Job summary

Keoghs in Newcastle is seeking a Junior costs negotiator to work on defendant large loss cases. You will draft and negotiate budgets, and advise lawyers on costs points, aiming for efficient settlements.

Primary duties include managing own caseload in the in-house system, hitting daily chargeable hours targets, and preparing Precedent H and R documents while maintaining accurate billing records for clients.

Qualifications

• 3 GCSEs grade C or above or equivalent including Maths, English & Science.
• Experience liaising with clients and handling own caseload.
• Strong negotiation and communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Manage own caseload using in-house case management system with accurate records and billing.
• Hit chargeable hours target every day.
• Delegate tasks when appropriate to other team members.
• Draft Precedent H.
• Prepare Precedent R on opponent’s Precedent H and ensure compliance with Costs Case Management Orders.
• Prepare points of dispute and consider replies.

Skills

Client liaison

Telephone negotiation

Initiative

Planning workloads

Verbal communication

Decision making

Calm under pressure

Education

GCSEs including Maths English & Science

Tools

In-house case management system

Job description

Description

Junior costs negotiator required to work on defendant large loss cases. Drafting and negotiating budgets. Drafting points of dispute and negotiating costs settlements. Advising lawyers on costs points.

Application Deadline

16 October 2026

Department

Legal

Location

Newcastle

Purpose

To prepare Precedent H and analyse Claimant’s Precedent H and prepare Precedent R. To enter into negotiations on the budgets.
To negotiate costs on RTA/EL/PL matters. To pursue the settlement of costs as soon as practicably possible. It is important that the job holder can quickly review files & formulate initial costs strategy, provide comprehensive advice to clients, commence early telephone negotiations with other side and liaise, as required, with Insurers throughout the life of the file.

Key Accountabilities

• Responsible for management of own caseload using in-house case management system including timely and accurate maintenance of the system along with billing and management information – ensuring completeness of records in order to aid business decision making.
• Responsible for hitting chargeable hours target every day.
• Delegation of tasks where available and appropriate to other members of the team.
• Drafting Precedent H
• Preparing Precedent R on opponent’s Precedent H and compliance with Costs Case Management Orders
• Preparing points of dispute and considering replies.

Working Hours

35 hours per week

Monday-Friday 9am-5pm with 1 hour unpaid for lunch.

Primary location for this role is Newcastle office.

Experience, Skills and Qualifications

• Previous experience of client liaison.
• Good standard of education – 3 GCSE’s grade C or above or equivalent including Maths, English & Science as a minimum.
• Good telephone negotiation skills
• Previous experience of handling own caseload.
• Have an understanding of the Detailed Assessment process, Cost Case Laws and Insurance Litigation practice & process.
• Ability to use own initiative.
• Ability to plan and prioritise workloads.
• Excellent listening and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to make decisions.
• Ability to remain calm under pressure.

Values

Our culture is focussed on making Keoghs sustainable and successful for our people and clients, with this our four values are at the heart of everything we do;

• We are connected
• We are Dynamic
• We are Innovative
• We succeed together

Benefits

• Davies Incentive Plan
• 25 days holiday per year which increases with level of service (opportunity to buy & sell 3 days)
• Simply Health Care Cash Plan
• WeCare – 24/7 online GP, mental health support and virtual wellbeing covering a whole host of topics to do with health, mental health, wellbeing & healthy living and financial & legal wellbeing
• Death In Service – after 1 years’ service
• Pension Contribution based 5% Employee / 3% Employer
• Employee Resource Groups
• Employee Volunteering Programme
• Cycle to Work Scheme*
• Tech Scheme*
• Season Ticket Loan*
• Gym Flex*
• Access to Online Discount Sites
• Discounted Gourmet Society Membership
• Discounted Tickets for Merlin Attractions nationwide
• Discounts at local retail outlets

*after successfully completing probation