Job Title:

Multi-Track Costs Draftsman/Costs Lawyer

Department:

Drafting

Reports To:

Team leader

Location:

Liverpool

Job Purpose:

We are seeking an experienced Costs Draftsman with experience in drafting Multi-Track Bill of Costs & Precedent S style Bill of Costs.

You must also be competent in the preparation of Costs Budgets, an excellent understanding of the litigation process in a number of case types and sufficient in being able to predict the outcome of a number of cases for the future costs element in the preparation of Costs Budgets. The candidate must also be proficient in Costs Budget negotiations including Precedent R preparation and the ability to identify as to whether a Budget amendment is required through a Precedent T.

The ability to attend a CCMC would also be of benefit to the candidate.

The candidate will have an excellent understanding in litigation & an excellent understanding of the case management process before a case arrives in Costs.

The ability to work alone and excel in problem solving in certain complex cases.

The ability to train other fee earners on Costs updates.

The ability to train external clients on Costs management and general rules about costs would be beneficial.

As a member of Your Legal Costs you need to be dedicated, motivated with the ability to organise your workload to meet deadlines.

You will report to your team leader within the Drafting Department and assist in delivering a first class service to our customers both within and outside of Your Legal Costs.

Principal Accountabilities:

• Excellent understanding of litigation & case management
• Preparing & serving Multi-Track Bills, Precedent S style Bills, Costs Budgets, Prec R, Prec T, N260 – Statement of Costs
• Some Legal Aid experience would be beneficial
• Good understanding of relevant CPR
• Communicating with clients/customers both written and verbally
• Any other duties as reasonably required by the business to assist you in your development
• Training & development of less experienced staff
• An excellent understanding in the following case types:
  • Housing Disrepair
  • Undisclosed commissions and other finance claims
  • Personal injury
  • CWI
  • Clinical Negligence
  • Commercial Litigation
  • Catastrophic Injury
  • Industrial Disease
  • Noise Induced Hearing Loss
  • Serious RTA
  • Holiday Claims

Person Specification:

Experience:

• Minimum of 5 years’ experience of drafting standard Bill of costs
• Ability to prepare Precedent S style Bill of Costs
• Ability to prepare Costs Budgets
• Good understanding of phasing and future costs
• Ability to attend CCMC’s would be of benefit
• Excellent in the use of Costs Master
• Training of staff internally
• Training of clients externally would be of benefit
• Knowledge of Proclaim
• Excel literate to an excellent standard
• Working effectively within a team
• Managing a workload of multiple categories
• Excellent customer service and communication skills
• Excellent time keeping and attendance

Personal Qualities / Competence:

• A desire to learn and develop skills
• Excellent customer service skills
• Organisational and planning skills
• A practical and flexible approach to work
• Good general IT skills
• Time management skills
• Ability to use initiative and solve problems
• Ability and desire to learn new systems – in-house training given.
• Attention to detail when updating notes onto database.
• Ability to be proficient at all times, ensuring correspondence such as; letters, emails and telephone calls are actioned/compiled in a professional manor.
• Self-drive, results orientated who can critically assess own performance.
• Excellent communicator, able to see things from all points of view.
• Well-presented and business like.
• Team-player

Remuneration:

• Dependent upon experience
• Training and development where required
• 25 days holidays per year plus bank holidays (Christmas Off)
• Birthday off (closest working day if this would otherwise be unavailable)
• 8 Hours “Me Time”
• Opportunity to progress within our specialised departments and other areas of the Your Legal Costs