Costs Draftsman / Costs Lawyer

Irwin Mitchell LLP; Stockport; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 56,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

25 days holidays + 3? bank holidays

Generous and flexible pension schemes

Volunteering days – two days per year

Health/membership benefits

Job summary

Irwin Mitchell LLP is seeking an experienced costs professional to join our national team in the UK. You’ll prepare Bills of Costs for Detailed or Provisional Assessment and manage bills through court processes, with potential advocacy at court as needed.

You’ll provide technical support to fee earners, interact with clients, and may train junior team members. A minimum of two years’ costs drafting experience is expected.

Qualifications

• Minimum two years’ experience in costs drafting, in-house or for an external supplier.
• Knowledge of preparing Bills of Costs for Detailed/Provisional Assessment.
• Experience with advocacy at Court if required and as agreed with Costs Partner.
• Ability to interact with clients and take instructions throughout the case.

Responsibilities

• Prepare Bills of Costs for Detailed/Provisional Assessment and manage related bills through Court processes.
• Provide technical support to fee earners and assist with training junior team members.
• Interact with clients, offering advice and taking instructions as cases progress.
• Liaise with stakeholders across the business and support cost drafting activities.

Skills

Costs drafting

Legal procedures

IT systems

Time recording

Communication

Tools

Billing software

Case management system

Job description

We’re a national law firm with a local reach. Our legal experts are here for you. Whether it’s personal or business, we understand that everyone’s situation is different. But we’re more than just a law firm – we’re a team of people working together to help individuals and businesses navigate life’s ups and downs. Working here you’ll feel a part of our friendly and inclusive environment.

We’ll value you for who you are and what you bring. We support each other and push boundaries to achieve incredible things and make a real difference to our clients and communities.

We're always looking to support our colleagues to work in a way that works best for them and everyone else, including our clients, the business and the regulators. Please speak to a member of our Recruitment and Onboarding team for more information.

Your Role and What You'll Be Doing

This is an excellent opportunity for an experienced ambitious individual to join a growing national team. You’ll be involved in the preparation of Bills of Costs for Detailed/Provisional Assessment as well as litigation of bills through the Court process. You may be involved in advocacy at Court if required and as agreed with the Costs Partner. As part of your role you will interact with clients, providing advice and taking instructions throughout the case. You will also provide technical support to fee earners, and you may be involved in training of junior members of the team. Ideally, you’ll have minimum two years’ experience working either in house or for an external supplier of costs drafting services.

About You

• Experience either in house or for an external supplier of Costs
• Basic knowledge of legal procedures
• Proven experience with IT systems and time recording procedures
• A flexible approach enabling you to respond to changes in priorities
• Excellent communication skills and professional telephone manner
• Ability to communicate clearly with stakeholders across the business
• Ability to work both independently and as part of a team
• Desirable: Experience in one or more legal departments

Our Benefits - What We Can Offer You

• 25 days holidays as standard plus bank holidays - You can ‘buy’ up to 35hrs of extra holiday too.
• Generous and flexible pension schemes.
• Volunteering days – Two days of volunteering every year for a cause of your choice (fully paid)
• Westfield Health membership, offering refunds on medical services alongside our Aviva Digital GP services.

We also offer a wide range of well-being initiatives to encourage positive mental health both in and out of the workplace and to make sure you’re fully supported.This includes our Flexible by Choice programme which gives our colleagues more choice over a hybrid way of working subject to role, team and client requirements.

We have been ranked in the Best Workplaces for Wellbeing for Large Organisations for 2024!

Our responsible business programmes are fundamental to who we are and our purpose. We’re committed to being a diverse and inclusive workplace where our colleagues can flourish, and we have established a number of inclusion network groups across our business to support this aim.

Our commitment to Social Responsibility, community investment activity and tackling climate change is a fundamental part of who we are. It’s made up of four strands: Our People, Our Community, Our Environment and Our Pro Bono.

Additional Information

As part of the Irwin Mitchell Group’s on-boarding process all successful applicants are required to complete the group’s employment screening process. This process helps to ensure that all new employees meet our standards in relation to honesty and integrity therefore protecting the interests of the Group, colleagues, clients, partners and other stakeholders.

We carry out pre employment screening to establish your eligibility to work in the UK, criminal record and financial checks with our trusted 3rd parties.

The employment screening process will fully comply with Data Protection and other applicable laws.

Irwin Mitchell LLP is an equal opportunity employer.