Law Costs Draftsperson – Nottingham

We are currently recruiting for an experienced Law Costs Draftsperson to work in our Public Law & Community Care Judicial Review Department. The successful candidate would be based at our Nottingham Office and would support our Public Law & Community Care Judicial Review Department.

Nottingham office – Public Law & Community Care Judicial Review Department

Full time – Monday – Friday, 9am – 5.30pm (office based)

Salary – Above market rate – subject to experience

Job Specification:

1. Costing and billing of legal aid files to include Legal Helps, Payments on Account, Final Legal Aid Claims.
2. Costing and dealing with Inter-Partes costs claims (including risk assessing, drafting replies to points of dispute and negotiating settlement with the paying party)
3. Lodging bills at Court for assessment.
4. Preparing Schedules of Costs
5. Fully conversant with CCMS and legal aid systems. Uploading documents onto CCMS in a timely manner as per LAA requests.
6. Preparing, negotiating and agreeing High Cost Case Plans
7. All aspects of cost recovery, including legal aid appeals.
8. Dealing with any rejected claims.
9. Awareness of and aptitude to meet Legal Aid KPI’s
10. Ensuring compliance with Legal Aid rules and internal office policy
11. Liaising with Counsel’s Chambers in order to obtain fee notes for billing purposes.
12. Liaising with fee earners and addressing any concerns which may be identified whilst preparing a bill
13. Undertaking other clerical and administrative duties as may be reasonably required from time to time.

Personal Specification:

1. A Costs Lawyer Professional Qualification or equivalent qualification.
2. Experience of drafting both Inter Partes and Legal Aid bills.
3. Competent cost drafting skills.
4. Competent negotiating skills.
5. Good oral and written communication skills.
6. High level of numeracy and accuracy when dealing with figures.
7. Ability to work under pressure and process a high volume of claims accurately.
8. Ability to work in a team environment and autonomously, proactively managing your own caseload.
9. Experience of using Case Management Systems.

Knowledge:

1. Knowledge and understanding of Legal Aid Agency rules relating to assessment and recovery of solicitor’s costs in publicly funded files.
2. An understanding of the rules governing Inter Partes bill preparation.
3. Court rules for lodging bills.
4. Court costs assessment procedures.
5. Basic Accounting Principles.
6. Experience of costing Judicial Review files (preferred)