Job Description

Costs Lawyer

Location: Manchester (hybrid working)

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

Experience: 1yr PQE + 

 

If you’re a Costs Lawyer who enjoys the technical detail, but also wants to be part of high-calibre disputes work with real commercial impact, this is a strong opportunity to join a specialist Costs Team supporting a wide Disputes Group.

Our client is looking to appoint a junior Costs Lawyer into a growing Costs Team. You’ll provide costs advice and support across a broad range of disputes, working on complex, high-value matters for leading clients, including cross-border and multi-jurisdictional work.

You’ll operate across the Disputes Group, supporting teams including Commercial Disputes, Finance Disputes, Real Estate Disputes, Construction Disputes, Insolvency Disputes and Intellectual Property Disputes. The team is known for technical excellence and commercially focused solutions, and is committed to innovation and the use of technology to drive efficiency and accuracy.

 

What You’ll Be Doing

• Preparing costs-related documents and providing tailored costs advice, with support from senior colleagues where needed

• Assisting with all stages of detailed assessment, including drafting bills, points of dispute and points of reply, and supporting at hearings

• Supporting senior colleagues on settlement strategy, including preparing advice on settlement parameters

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

• Monitoring legal spend under supervision and supporting fee earners with practical guidance

• Preparing N260 schedules of costs for summary assessments

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

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

• Ensuring compliance with relevant procedural rules and regulations

 

What We’re Looking For

• Experience supporting costs work across detailed assessment and costs management

• Solid understanding of costs assessment and management processes

• Strong attention to detail and a commitment to accurate, high-quality work

• Ability to manage multiple deadlines and deliver within agreed timeframes

• Confident working collaboratively, supporting fee earners and building strong internal relationships

• Forward-thinking mindset and interest in using technology to improve efficiency and client outcomes

 

What’s On Offer

• Hybrid working (typically 2 days from home per week, depending on role and location)

• Global mobility and international opportunities, including secondments, placements and potential relocations

• Competitive financial package, including discretionary bonus (performance dependent)

• Pension with matched employer contributions (up to 5%)

• Life assurance (4x salary) and income protection cover

• Private medical insurance, with options to upgrade and add family cover

• Dental plan and access to health screening options

• 25 days’ annual leave, rising to 27 with service, plus the option to buy or sell up to one week per year

• Sabbatical leave options (subject to eligibility)

• Health and wellbeing support, including 24/7 employee assistance programme and counselling

• Mental health support network and occupational health support

• Wellbeing subsidy towards gym, sports membership or wellbeing apps

• Cycle to Work scheme and interest-free season ticket loan

• CSR day for volunteering (1 day per year) and payroll giving scheme

• Discounts and rewards portal, plus peer and manager recognition schemes

 

Working Arrangements

This role can be based in either Leeds or Manchester and is offered on a hybrid basis, typically with office attendance three days per week and home working two days per week, depending on role requirements.

 

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 are handled in the strictest confidence. We will always obtain your express permission before sharing your details with our client.