Costs Negotiator

Express Solicitors; Manchester; Hybrid; GBP 30,000 - 40,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid working

23–26 days holiday

Private medical insurance after 2 yrs

Onsite gym

Job summary

Express Solicitors Limited in Manchester is seeking a Cost Negotiator to join the established costs department, handling fixed costs caseloads, reviewing disputes, making offers and preparing bills for settlement.

You will report to a supervisor, work to targets, and liaise with fee earners while using Proclaim, Cost Master and Excel. The role offers hybrid working, 23–26 days holiday, private medical insurance after 2 years and active team social events.

Qualifications

• 2 to 5 years’ experience of case handling and working to target.
• Good knowledge of CPR Cost related procedures and Pre-Action Protocols.
• Ability to deal with advocacy at costs hearings (desirable).

Responsibilities

• Securing payments on account of costs at the earliest opportunity.
• Reviewing and negotiating fixed costs cases and bills.
• Drafting Part 23 Applications and Replies to Points of Dispute.
• Preparing bills and Part 8/Part 23 Proceedings.
• Attending costs hearings and providing technical support to the costs team.
• Maintaining high client care and service standards.

Skills

Excellent communication skills

IT skills

Ability to work to time scales

Teamwork

Tools

Proclaim

Cost Master

Excel

Job description

Established in 2000, Express Solicitors is an award winning, no win no fee law firm specialising exclusively in personal injury claims. Headquartered in Manchester, we support clients nationwide across all areas of personal injury, including employers’ liability, serious injury, clinical negligence, occupiers’ and public liability, road traffic accidents and industrial disease.

We are ranked 60th in The Lawyer UK Top 200, out of more than 10,000 law firms nationwide, and after achieving a 24% year on year growth, Express Solicitors are the largest personal injury claimant firm in the UK.

Our commitment to outstanding client care is reflected in our Trustpilot rating of 4.7 (Excellent), placing us among the highest rated firms in the sector.

The Role

We are currently looking for a Cost Negotiator to join our established costs department of 40 plus.

The position will involve handling a fixed costs caseload reviewing inter partes disputes, developing persuasive arguments making offers, negotiating settlement and preparing cases for summary and detailed assessment.

The role involves:

Reporting to supervisor in weekly review meetings.

Working to a caseload, WIP and fee target.

Reviewing and negotiating fixed costs cases.

Drafting letters, Costs Schedules, Part 23 Applications and Part 8 Proceedings. Skeleton arguments and written submissions.

Liaising with fee earners and management.

Providing assistance to other team members as and when required.

Responsibilities

Securing payments on account of costs at the earliest opportunity.

Ensure that the quality of work produced is to the highest standard.

Reviewing costs schedules/bills with a view to negotiating Claimants costs, generally disputed fixed costs cases, and settling costs files in a timely manner.

Negotiating settlement of costs and reporting terms of settlement.

Preparing bills/Part 23 Applications and/or Replies to Points of Dispute in fixed costs cases.

Drafting Part 8 and Part 23 Proceedings.

Preparing cases for assessment hearings.

Attending costs hearings where appropriate.

Provide technical support to the costs team on fixed costs disputes.

Maintaining the highest client care and service standards.

Person Specification

A good working knowledge of fixed costs claims and the costs process.

A good working knowledge of CPR Cost related procedures, Pre-Action Protocols, and case law for fixed costs disputes.

2 to 5 years’ experience of case handling and working to target.

Ability to deal with advocacy at costs hearings on fixed costs matters (not essential but desirable.)

Good commercial awareness and a professional attitude.

Ability to work to time scales and cope under pressure.

Excellent communication skills and ability to work within a team.

Good IT skills, experience of Proclaim, Excel and Cost Master is desirable.

The role also offers excellent career development prospects for the right candidate, as the firm offers training contracts or support through the ACL qualification, for those candidates who prove themselves.

Salary & Hours

Salary of £30,000 to £40,000, dependent on experience

Our standard working hours are 8:30am to 5:30pm Monday-Thursday and 8:30am to 5pm Friday.

Hybrid Working

Flexible hybrid working pattern

23 Days Holiday

Rising to 26 days, plus bank/public holidays.

3 holiday buy backs and an extra day for your birthday after service length requirement.

Looking After Your Health

Private medical insurance available after 2 years’ service, annual flu jab and Employee Assistance Programme.

24/7 onsite Gym, Netball/Football team, 10km Manchester team and more.

Work Life / Balance

Active social committee with generous departmental and firm-wide social budget.