Costs Technical Specialist

ENGINEERINGUK; United Kingdom; Hybrid; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A national law firm in the United Kingdom is seeking a highly experienced Technical Costs Lawyer to provide legal and tactical guidance in a hands-on role. Your responsibilities will involve supporting colleagues with cost management, developing strategies to adapt to market changes, and delivering complex training. The ideal candidate will have a Law Costs Drafting qualification and strong technical skills in costs management. This role offers a supportive environment with generous benefits including vacation days and well-being initiatives.

Benefits

25 days holiday plus bank holidays

Flexible pension schemes

Volunteering days

Qualifications

• Proven experience as a law costs draftsperson or related position.
• Strong knowledge of Civil Procedure Rules and Legal Aid Regulations.
• Ability to work autonomously and as part of a team.

Responsibilities

• Provide technical support on costs aspects of claims handling.
• Develop strategies and tactics in response to market changes.
• Deliver complex costs training to the Costs Team and wider IM group.

Skills

Costs management

Legal advising

Stakeholder management

Training provision

Autonomy

Education

Law Costs Drafting qualification

Tools

Legal software

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

We are looking for a technical (subject matter) expert with a leading, hands‑on role. You will operate as the "go to" referral point providing appropriate legal and tactical guidance and improving team knowledge levels. Incorporating the latest developments in Costs case law and market challenges/changes, you will help to set objectives in relation to costs and funding litigation strategies that achieve the Costs strategic and financial goals through the sharing of knowledge and best practice.

You will be a highly experienced technical Costs Lawyer, or have equivalent experiences/qualifications, and will be proficient in preparing and advising in a variety of matters from case inception through to case conclusion. This will involve delivering expert support in specific areas of costs management, including complex funding arrangements, bill auditing/analysis, attending costs related hearings, costs ADR, costs assessments, costs budgeting, litigation and negotiation strategies. The role is likely to involve drafting of documents such as witness statements or funding documents.

What You'll Be Doing

• Provide technical support to colleagues in relation to all costs aspects of claims handling including conduct of cases in accordance with Statute, the Court Rules and Practice Directions, evidencing claims, valuing/budgeting for claims and negotiations, and providing assistance where required
• Be a specialist in the National Team, keeping ahead of market changes and legal challenges, working with the Head of Costs Delivery to develop strategies and tactics to adapt accordingly
• Provision of complex costs training within the Costs Team to enable successful role performance and to meet individual learning needs. Training provision out to the wider IM group to educate, develop and upskill on complex matters across all departments
• Provide advice to all departments across the IM group on complex funding and costs matters
• Improve the technical capability of the Costs department across all locations
• Advocates at both Costs and Case Management Conferences and detailed assessments, as well as at any settlement meeting (by request)
• Provide expertise in recovering legal fees in civil and commercial cost matters to achieve an appropriate resolution
• Undertaking case audits as required ensuring sound costs advice is/was provided and compliance with the firm's policies and procedures

About You

• A subject matter expert operating at a senior level
• Strong Costs technician, able to engage credibly across the group.
• Ability to meet with and manage expectations of multiple stakeholders and be resilient in the face of conflicting demands
• Proficiency in collaboration and delegation of duties
• Strong organisation skills and attention to detail
• Proven experience as a law costs draftsperson or associated position - a Law Costs Drafting qualification, other legal or financial qualification would be desirable
• Working knowledge of time recording procedures, Civil Procedure Rules and Legal Aid Regulations
• Develops talent and understanding through coaching
• Ability to work autonomously with limited supervision and also as part of a team
• Makes timely, confident decisions on day to day issues

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 onboarding 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.

If the role is homeworking you will be assigned to your closest office and travel may be required in line with business need to that office