Junior Costs Negotiator

Greater Manchester – Salary negotiable based on experience

Junior Costs Negotiator

The Role

We are working with a leading legal client who is looking to appoint a Junior Costs Negotiator to join their growing Costs team.

This is an excellent opportunity for someone looking to develop a career in legal costs. The successful candidate will manage their own caseload with support from experienced colleagues, handling a range of litigated costs matters while receiving ongoing training, mentoring, and clear opportunities for progression.

The role will involve pursuing the early settlement of legal costs, negotiating with opponents, advising clients, and preparing matters through the detailed assessment process.

Key Responsibilities

• Managing your own caseload from instruction through to settlement.
• Reviewing files and developing an effective costs strategy.
• Preparing Points of Dispute and considering Replies.
• Assessing the strengths and weaknesses of costs claims and negotiating appropriate settlements.
• Conducting telephone negotiations with opponents to achieve the best possible outcome.
• Providing regular updates and reports to clients.
• Handling correspondence and telephone enquiries within agreed service levels.
• Undertaking regular file reviews in line with client requirements.
• Instructing counsel where appropriate.
• Attending conferences, mediations, and detailed assessment hearings where required.
• Conducting advocacy at hearings where appropriate.
• Working towards agreed performance targets, quality standards, and client KPIs.
• Supporting the development of junior colleagues where required.
• Ensuring compliance with relevant professional standards and regulations.

The successful candidate will have:

• Previous experience in a Costs Negotiator role is desirable, although full training will be provided for candidates with transferable experience.
• Experience managing or assisting with a caseload of claimant or defendant costs matters would be advantageous.
• A degree, LPC, ACL qualification, or equivalent legal background is desirable.
• Experience liaising with clients and providing advice both verbally and in writing.
• A good understanding of the detailed assessment process and the Civil Procedure Rules relating to costs.
• Strong telephone negotiation and communication skills.
• An understanding of current costs case law and litigation procedures.
• The ability to prioritise workloads, work under pressure, and use initiative.
• Excellent organisational and interpersonal skills.
• Strong IT skills, including Microsoft Office applications.

Working pattern: Permanent, full-time, hybrid working available.
The successful candidate will benefit from:

• A competitive salary, dependent on experience.
• Ongoing training, mentoring, and structured career development.
• Hybrid working arrangements.
• Generous annual leave entitlement with the option to purchase additional leave.
• Healthcare and wellbeing benefits.
• Pension scheme and life assurance.
• Employee wellbeing initiatives and support services.
• Cycle to work and technology schemes.
• Access to employee discounts and lifestyle benefits.

This is an excellent opportunity for a junior costs professional looking to build a long-term career within a supportive and highly regarded legal environment.