Costs Lawyer/Negotiator (5607)

Irwin Mitchell LLP; Sheffield; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 45,000; Full time

Job summary

A national law firm is seeking a skilled Costs Negotiator to manage and negotiate legal costs, ensuring optimal outcomes for clients. The role requires a minimum of two years’ experience in costs drafting services, strong analytical skills, and excellent communication abilities. You will engage in negotiations, analyze bills of costs, and advise clients throughout the recovery process. Benefits include generous holidays and flexible pension schemes.

Benefits

25 days holidays plus bank holidays

Flexible pension schemes

Two volunteering days per year

Westfield Health membership

Qualifications

• Minimum two years’ experience working in-house or for an external supplier of costs drafting services.
• Comprehensive understanding of the relevant case law related to costs.
• Ability to communicate clearly with stakeholders across the business.

Responsibilities

• Engaging in detailed negotiations with opponents regarding legal costs, aiming to achieve optimal settlements.
• Analysing, preparing, and negotiating detailed bills of costs.
• Drafting Points of Dispute and Replies, and preparing costs schedules and statements.
• Preparing documents for proceedings and attending court if required.
• Advising clients throughout the costs recovery process.

Skills

Analytical skills

Communication abilities

Negotiation

Understanding of legal costs procedures

Education

Financial or legal qualifications e.g.: ILEX Part 1 Year 1

Financial or law degree

Job description

Overview

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

We are seeking a skilled and detail-oriented Costs Negotiator to join our growing national team. You will play a critical role in managing and negotiating legal costs, ensuring that our clients receive the best possible outcomes.

You’ll be involved in progressing cases through the detailed assessment process, providing advice and taking instructions from lay clients and/or case handlers. The role also includes drafting Replies to Points of Dispute, interlocutory applications and instructing advocates where necessary. You may be involved in advocacy at Court if required and as agreed with the Costs Partner. Ideally, you’ll have minimum two years’ experience working either in house or for an external supplier of costs drafting services. This position requires strong analytical skills, excellent communication abilities, and a thorough understanding of legal cost procedures.

What You’ll Be Doing

• Engaging in detailed negotiations with opponents regarding legal costs, aiming to achieve optimal settlements.
• Analysing, preparing, and negotiating detailed bills of costs.
• Draft Points of Dispute and Replies, and prepare costs schedules and statements.
• Preparing and submitting documents for proceedings and attend court if required.
• Advising clients throughout the costs recovery process

About You

• Proven experience either in house or for an external supplier as a Costs Negotiator, Costs Lawyer, or in a similar role.
• Comprehensive understanding of the relevant case law related to costs.
• Ability to communicate clearly with stakeholders across the business
• Desirable financial or legal qualifications e.g.: ILEX Part 1 Year 1
• Desirable Financial or law degree.

Benefits

• 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.