Job Description

Costs Lawyer

Location: Manchester

Salary: £45,000 to £65,000 + bonus and benefits

Experience: Costs experience within disputes (junior to mid-level)

 

Our client is looking to recruit a Costs Lawyer into its specialist Costs Team, supporting the wider Disputes Group in Manchester.

This is a great opportunity for a forward-thinking costs professional who enjoys technically strong work and wants broad exposure across commercial, finance, real estate, construction, insolvency and IP disputes. The team supports high-value matters and is known for delivering commercially focused, practical advice.

 

What You’ll Be Doing

• Supporting all stages of detailed assessment, including drafting bills, points of dispute and points of reply, and assisting with hearings

• Supporting costs management work, including drafting precedent H budgets, precedent R discussion reports, and precedent T forms for budget variations

• Preparing N260 schedules of costs for summary assessments

• Assisting with schedules of costs for payments on account and for arbitrations

• Supporting settlement strategy by helping prepare advice on settlement parameters

• Liaising with fee earners across the Disputes Group to manage expectations and support efficient delivery

• Ensuring compliance with relevant procedural rules and regulations

• Managing multiple deadlines and delivering accurate work within agreed timeframes

 

What We’re Looking For

Essential

• Strong understanding of legal costs assessment and costs management processes

• Experience assisting with costs drafting and costs documentation (including detailed assessment work)

• Excellent attention to detail, organisation and time management

• Confidence working across multiple workstreams and meeting deadlines

• Clear communication style and a collaborative approach

Desirable

• Experience supporting on complex, high-value disputes

• Interest in innovation and legal technology to improve efficiency and accuracy

 

What’s On Offer

• Salary of £45,000 to £65,000 + bonus and benefits

• High-calibre work across a broad disputes practice

• Supportive, collaborative culture with strong investment in development

• Structured training, mentoring and progression support

• A genuinely inclusive environment with active networks and a focus on belonging

 

Working Arrangements

Manchester. Full-time, permanent role.

 

Next Steps

Apply online or send your CV to  lee.hawthorne-finch@h-fts.com  or call 0333 996 2882 for more information.

All applications will be handled in strict confidence.