Costs Lawyer / Costs Solicitor

Douglas Scott Global Recruitment; East Midlands; Hybrid; GBP 60,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Private medical insurance

Income protection

Enhanced family leave

Pension contributions

25 days' annual leave

Job summary

Douglas Scott Ltd is seeking an experienced Costs Lawyer or Costs Solicitor to join its Costs team, handling a varied caseload of complex and high-value litigation matters. You will manage costs matters arising from substantial multi-track litigation, providing technical costs advice and commercially focused solutions throughout the life of a claim.

The role covers complex personal injury, serious injury, insurance, commercial litigation and clinical negligence matters, with hybrid working and

Qualifications

• Experience in costs litigation, costs management or detailed assessment.
• Handling complex or high-value litigation costs matters.
• Background in serious/complex injury, commercial litigation or clinical negligence.
• Strong drafting and negotiation skills.
• Experience with CCMCs, costs budgeting, and detailed assessments.
• Experience with both claimant and defendant work is advantageous.
• Qualified Costs Lawyer, Solicitor, CILEX, or Barrister preferred; unqualified considered.

Responsibilities

• Manage a caseload of complex, high-value costs matters.
• Draft and review bills of costs and replies.
• Handle detailed assessment proceedings and applications.
• Advise clients on costs strategy and proportionality.
• Develop settlement strategies and negotiate with parties.
• Prepare instructions to counsel and briefs.
• Attend costs hearings and provide advocacy where appropriate.
• Support and mentor junior colleagues.
• Contribute to knowledge sharing within the team.

Skills

Costs litigation

Drafting bills

Negotiation

Advocacy

Client advisory

Mentoring juniors

Education

Qualified Costs Lawyer or Solicitor, or CILEX Lawyer/Barrister

Tools

Costs budgeting software

Electronic bills platform

Job description

Job Title: Costs Lawyer / Costs Solicitor - Complex & High-Value Litigation

Location: Hybrid (occasional travel to Manchester required)

Salary: Negotiable

The Role

A well-established national law firm is seeking an experienced Costs Lawyer or Costs Solicitor to join its growing Costs team, handling a varied caseload of complex and high-value litigation matters.

The successful candidate will manage costs matters arising from substantial multi-track litigation, providing technical costs advice and commercially focused solutions throughout the life of a claim.

The team works across a broad range of civil litigation, acting for both paying and receiving parties, with exposure to complex personal injury, serious injury, insurance, commercial litigation and clinical negligence matters.

• Managing a caseload of complex and high-value costs matters.
• Drafting and reviewing bills of costs, including electronic bills, Points of Dispute and Replies.
• Handling detailed assessment proceedings and associated applications.
• Advising clients on costs strategy, proportionality, recoverability and settlement.
• Managing negotiations and developing commercial settlement strategies.
• Preparing instructions and briefs to counsel.
• Attending costs hearings and undertaking advocacy where appropriate.
• Working closely with clients, solicitors, counsel and other stakeholders.
• Supporting and mentoring junior colleagues where appropriate.
• Contributing to the development of technical knowledge and best practice within the team.

About the Candidate

• Previous experience in costs litigation, costs management or detailed assessment.
• Experience handling complex or high-value litigation costs matters.
• Background in at least one of the following areas: serious injury, catastrophic injury, complex insurance litigation, commercial litigation or clinical negligence.
• Strong technical knowledge and excellent drafting skills.
• Confident managing negotiations and providing commercially focused advice.
• Experience of both claimant and defendant work would be advantageous.
• Experience with costs budgeting, CCMCs, electronic bills and detailed assessment hearings would be beneficial.
• Qualified Costs Lawyer, Solicitor, CILEX Lawyer or Barrister preferred, although applications from experienced unqualified costs professionals will also be considered.

The Opportunity

This is an excellent opportunity to join a well-established national law firm with a strong presence across the insurance and commercial sectors.

The Costs team offers a supportive and collaborative working environment, with a strong technical knowledge base and opportunities to work on complex, high-value matters.

The firm offers hybrid and flexible working arrangements, alongside a comprehensive benefits package including private medical insurance, income protection, enhanced family leave, pension contributions and 25 days' annual leave, increasing with service.