Junior Costs Draftsperson

Keoghs; Bolton; On-site; GBP 24,000 - 29,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Davies Incentive Plan

25 days holiday + buy/sell 3 days

Simply Health Care Cash Plan

WeCare – 24/7 online support

Death In Service

Pension Contribution 5% / 3%

Job summary

Keoghs in Bolton is seeking a Junior Costs Draftsperson to help pursue the settlement of legal costs across Property, Risks & Coverage claims. You will draft budgets, points of dispute, bills, and schedules of costs, and provide clear advice to clients as cases progress.

You will proactively review cases, outline early settlement strategies, negotiate by phone with opponents, and liaise with insurers while aligning with client SLAs and KPI targets. Training and development support is provided.

Qualifications

• Degree and/or LPC and/or ALCD.
• Experience in client liaison and taking instructions both verbally and in writing.
• Strong telephone negotiation skills.
• Understanding of current cost case law and insurance litigation practice.
• Ability to plan and prioritise workloads and stay calm under pressure.

Responsibilities

• Proactively reviewing cases to formulate an initial costs strategy and settlement parameters.
• Preparing costs schedules; bills to proceed through costs litigation; points of dispute; and considering replies.
• Identifying and documenting strengths and weaknesses of own case and opponent’s case.
• Using the telephone to discuss, argue meritorious points, and negotiate settlements of costs.
• Updating reports to clients on progress made in resolving costs claimed.
• Ensuring compliance with client SLAs, KPIs and MI requirements.

Skills

Client liaison

Telephone negotiation

Cost case law understanding

Decision making

Workload planning

Verbal communication

Team player

MS Office proficiency

Education

Degree and LPC/ALCD

Tools

Microsoft Office

Job description

Description

To pursue the settlement of legal costs as soon as practicably possible on a range of Property, Risks & Coverage claims through drafting budgets, points of disputes, bills, schedules of costs and other formal documents.

A Junior Costs Draftsperson should be able to proactively review cases; formulate an initial costs strategy and settlement parameters; provide comprehensive advice to clients; commence early telephone negotiations with opponents; and liaise, as required, with Insurers throughout the life of the file.

The Junior Costs Draftsperson should be able to establish strong working relationships within the Costs team; the wider Keoghs business; and with our clients through use of excellent oral skills and succinct written communications.

The Junior Costs Draftsperson will be expected to attain their Objectives as well as Client SLAs and KPIs. Support and mentoring with their Personal Development Plan will be provided to enable technical development and career progression.

The Head of Costs is Howard Dean; Technical Director is Elaine Pitt; and Business Unit Director is Amanda Nuttall. This role is in the Costs Recoveries and PRC team managed by Darren Lee with support from Lead Lawyer, Matthew Luckhurst.

Application Deadline

10 November 2026

Department

Legal

Location

Bolton

Key Accountabilities

• Proactively reviewing cases to formulate an initial costs strategy and settlement parameters
• Preparing costs schedules; bills to proceed through costs litigation; points of dispute; and considering replies
• Identifying and documenting strengths and weaknesses of own case and opponent’s case
• Using the telephone to discuss; put forward meritorious arguments; and negotiate settlement of costs
• Updating reports to clients of progress made in resolving costs claimed
• Dealing with correspondence and telephone calls received within SLAs
• Undertaking periodic reviews of files in line with client requirements
• Settlement of costs within agreed negotiation parameters
• Instructing counsel and attending conferences; detailed assessment hearings; and mediations, remotely and in person
• Attending court for application hearings; detailed assessment hearings and mediations remotely and in person to conduct own advocacy
• Delivery of agreed performance targets; Keoghs quality standards; and client’s SLAs, KPIs and MI requirements
• Delegate assigned tasks to a Paralegal and be fully engaged in their development in terms of technical ability and achievement of objectives
• To ensure compliance with the SRA Standards & Regulations

Working Hours

• Monday – Friday 9am – 5pm with 1 unpaid hour for lunch.
• Primary location for this role is Bolton Office.

Essential Skills and Attributes

• Degree and/or LPC and/or ALCD
• Previous experience of client liaison - taking instructions and providing advice both verbally and in writing
• Good telephone negotiation skills
• An understanding of current cost case law and insurance litigation practice and process
• Ability to use own initiative and make decisions
• Ability to plan and prioritise workloads and to remain calm under pressure
• Excellent listening and verbal communication skills
• Ability to act as part of a team
• Proficient IT skills in Microsoft packages

Benefits

• Davies Incentive Plan
• 25 days holiday per year which increases with level of service (opportunity to buy & sell 3 days)
• Simply Health Care Cash Plan
• WeCare – 24/7 online GP, mental health support and virtual wellbeing covering a whole host of topics to do with health, mental health, wellbeing & healthy living and financial & legal wellbeing
• Death In Service – after 1 years’ service
• Pension Contribution based 5% Employee / 3% Employer
• Employee Resource Groups
• Employee Volunteering Programme
• Cycle to Work Scheme
• Tech Scheme
• Season Ticket Loan
• Gym Flex
• Access to Online Discount Sites
• Discounted Gourmet Society Membership
• Discounted Tickets for Merlin Attractions nationwide
• Discounts at local retail outlets