Junior Costs Negotiator

Keoghs; Birmingham; On-site; GBP 28,000 - 36,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Davies Incentive Plan

25 days holiday per year (plus buy/s—3

Simply Health Care Cash Plan

WeCare – online GP and wellbeing

Death In Service

Pension Contribution 5%/3%

Employee Resource Groups

Employee Volunteering Programme

Cycle to Work Scheme

Tech Scheme

Season Ticket Loan

Gym Flex

Discounts at Merlin attractions

Discounts at local retailers

Job summary

Keoghs seeks a Junior Costs Negotiator to manage a caseload focused on settlement of costs for MOD disease claims in the Birmingham area. You will review cases, set initial cost strategies, and begin early negotiations with opponents while updating clients on progress.

The role requires strong telephone negotiation, written communication, and a proactive approach. Full training and career progression support is provided within the Costs team.

Qualifications

• Experience in junior costs negotiations or cost claims process
• Knowledge of Detailed Assessment process and CPR costs provisions
• Strong telephone negotiation and client communication skills
• Ability to plan workloads and stay calm under pressure
• Proficient IT skills in Microsoft packages

Responsibilities

• Proactively reviewing cases to formulate an initial costs strategy and settlement parameters
• Preparing points of dispute and considering replies
• Identifying and documenting strengths and weaknesses of own case and opponent’s costs claimed
• 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

Skills

Negotiation skills

Costs knowledge

Client liaison

Attention to detail

IT skills

Education

Degree/LPC/ALCD

Tools

Microsoft Office

Job description

Description

To pursue the settlement of legal costs as soon as practicably possible on a range of MOD disease claims.

Application Deadline

26 October 2026

Department

Legal

Location

Birmingham

The Junior Costs Negotiator 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 Negotiator 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 Negotiator 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 Legacy team managed by Darren Lee with support from Lead Lawyer, Paul Edwards.

Key Accountabilities

• Proactively reviewing cases to formulate an initial costs strategy and settlement parameters
• Preparing points of dispute and considering replies
• Identifying and documenting strengths and weaknesses of own case and opponent’s costs claimed
• 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

28 - 35 hours per week

Monday – Friday 9am – 5pm with 1 unpaid hour for lunch.

Primary location for this role is Birmingham or Bolton Office.

Experience, Skills and Qualifications

• Ideally will have performed a similar junior costs negotiator role, either for claimant or defendant, handling own caseload. Full training and supervision will be provided to any candidate without this experience.
• Degree and/or LPC and/or ALCD
• Previous experience of client/customer liaison - taking instructions and providing advice both verbally and in writing
• Knowledge of the Detailed Assessment process and the relevant CPR provisions relating to costs.
• 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

*after successfully completing probation