Cost Lawyer

Salt South Africa; Cape Town; On-site; ZAR 500,000 - 900,000; Full time

Job summary

Salt South Africa seeks an experienced Costs Lawyer to lead complex cost matters within a dynamic team in Cape Town. The role involves drafting and reviewing legal documents, advocating for clients, mentoring juniors, and maintaining strong stakeholder relationships. Candidates must hold a law degree, be a qualified Costs Lawyer, and possess proven experience in high-value cases.

Qualifications

• Proven experience in complex, high-value cost matters.
• Confident advocate with experience in County Courts and/or SCCO.
• Excellent drafting skills and attention to detail.

Responsibilities

• Draft and review Bills of Costs, Budgets, and Points of Dispute.
• Represent clients at detailed assessments and hearings.
• Deliver clear, strategic advice on costs law.

Skills

Legal

Costs Drafting

Bills of Costs

Budgets

Advocacy

CPR Knowledge

Legal Advice

Education

Degree in Law (LLB, LLM)

Qualified Costs Lawyer (CLSB)

Tools

Microsoft Excel

Job description

Costs Lawyer

About the Role

We're looking for an experienced Costs Lawyer to join our dynamic and client-focused team. This is a fantastic opportunity for a qualified professional to take the lead on complex, high-value cost matters across a wide variety of legal disciplines.

You'll combine your technical knowledge of costs law with strategic thinking, commercial insight, and outstanding client service. If you enjoy advocacy, mentoring others, and working with top-tier legal professionals, this is the role for you.

What You'll Be Doing

· Draft and review Bills of Costs, Budgets (Precedent H), Precedent R, N260s, and Points of Dispute/Replies

· Represent clients at detailed assessments, CCMCs, and other hearings

· Deliver clear, strategic advice on costs law, procedure, and recent case law

· Draft retainers, funding arrangements, and accurate cost estimates

· Negotiate settlements and advocate for clients' best interests

· Support and mentor junior team members

· Build strong working relationships with solicitors, barristers, and clients

· Help shape internal processes, templates, and policies

· Maintain meticulous time records and meet firm SLAs and KPIs

What We're Looking For

· Degree in Law (LLB, LLM)

· Qualified Costs Lawyer (CLSB regulated)

· Proven experience in complex, high-value or multi-party costs matters

· Confident advocate with experience in County Courts and/or SCCO

· In-depth knowledge of CPR Parts 44-47, and relevant case law

· Excellent drafting skills and attention to detail

· Strong client communication and stakeholder management skills

· Proficiency in Microsoft Excel (including complex calculations and large data-sets)

· Organised, proactive, and commercially aware

Salt is acting as an Employment Agency in relation to this vacancy.

Desired Skills:

• Legal
• Costs Drafting
• Bills of Costs
• Budgets
• Advocacy
• CPR Knowledge
• Legal Advice

Desired Qualification Level:

• Honours