Legal Costs Solicitor

William James Recruitment; Manchester; Hybrid; GBP 36,000 - 60,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Company Pension

Private medical insurance

Death in Service / Critical Illness

Job summary

William James Recruitment is seeking an experienced Legal Costs Solicitor or Draftsperson to join its national Costs team, with hybrid working across Manchester, Birmingham or Liverpool.

You will manage your own costs caseload from instruction to settlement, draft budgets and bills, and attend CCMCs and hearings, while providing strategic guidance on budgeting and dispute resolution.

Qualifications

• Minimum 3 years’ experience in legal costs litigation.
• Experience acting for both claimants and defendants.
• Confident advocate with CCMCs and applications.
• Strong drafting skills across all key costs documents.
• Proven ability to negotiate settlements effectively.
• Capable of managing and prioritising a busy and varied caseload.

Responsibilities

• Managing a varied caseload of costs matters from instruction to settlement
• Drafting budgets, bills of costs, Points of Dispute and replies
• Attending CCMCs, applications and other advocacy‑focused hearings
• Providing strategic advice on budgeting, reserving and dispute resolution
• Negotiating costs settlements with opponents
• Reviewing files and preparing accurate, high‑quality costs documentation
• Handling both claimant and defendant costs matters
• Working independently while contributing to a national Costs team

Skills

Drafting costs documents

Advocacy (CCMCs)

Negotiation

Attention to detail

Communication skills

Case-load management

Job description

Legal Costs Solicitor – Manchester / Birmingham / Liverpool – Hybrid – Up to £60,000

A leading national law firm is seeking an experienced Legal Costs Draftsperson or Solicitor to join its well-established Costs team in either Manchester, Birmingham or Liverpool. This is an excellent opportunity to join a highly regarded national practice, working on a diverse range of costs matters across commercial litigation, personal injury and other complex, high-value disputes.

As part of the Costs team, you'll manage your own caseload from inception through to conclusion, preparing a broad range of costs documentation and advising on strategic costs issues throughout the litigation process. The role also offers regular advocacy opportunities at CCMCs and application hearings, making it an excellent opportunity for someone looking to further develop their technical expertise and advocacy experience within a supportive, collaborative team.

The Role

• Managing a varied caseload of costs matters from instruction to settlement
• Drafting budgets, bills of costs, Points of Dispute and replies
• Attending CCMCs, applications and other advocacy‑focused hearings
• Providing strategic advice on budgeting, reserving, recovery and dispute resolution
• Negotiating costs settlements with opponents
• Reviewing files and preparing accurate, high‑quality costs documentation
• Handling both claimant and defendant costs matters
• Working independently while contributing to a national Costs team

The Candidate

• Minimum 3 years’ experience in legal costs litigation
• Experience acting for both claimants and defendants
• Confident advocate with experience attending CCMCs and applications
• Strong drafting skills across all key costs documents
• Proven ability to negotiate settlements effectively
• Capable of managing and prioritising a busy and varied caseload
• High attention to detail with strong analytical ability
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills

The Benefits

• Competitive salary up to £60,000 depending on experience
• 25 days plus 8 bank holidays (opportunity to buy & sell 3 days), increases to 26 days after 5 years’ service and 27 days after 10 years’ service
• Company Pension
• Private medical insurance
• Death in Service / Critical Illness cover
• Access to retail discounts and nationwide entertainment offers
• Supportive working environment with clear progression
• Strong training and development opportunities