Costs Draftperson

 Are you an experienced Law Costs Draftsperson looking to make a significant impact in a dynamic Costs Manchester Unit? We are seeking a highly skilled professional to join our Costs Department, working to maximise costs recovery and manage a diverse caseload effectively. This role involves handling PI Intermediate Track and Multi Track cases, from the preparation of cost budgets to advocacy stages. 

Key Responsibilities

• Assist fee earners and other Law Costs Draftspersons in preparing Statements of Costs for Summary Assessment (N260s), Estimates (Form H’s), Costs Budgets (Precedent H), and Formal Bills of Costs with limited supervision.
• Negotiate and settle claims for costs on the best possible terms.
• Prepare and conduct costs recovery in accordance with the Costs Recovery Handling Protocol and internal service standards.
• Assist in the preparation of Formal Bills, Costs Budgets, Points of Dispute, and Replies to Points of Dispute in higher-value matters.
• Provide advice to fee earners on levels and prospects of costs recovery.
• Prepare Statements of Costs for Summary Assessment (N260s) for trials, applications, or approval hearings and negotiate settlements where appropriate.

Skills, Knowledge and Expertise

• Self-confident and able to work independently as well as part of a team, accepting supervision.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, both verbally and in writing.
• Strong advocacy skills and a persuasive, assertive negotiator with a good telephone manner.
• Highly organised with excellent file management skills and attention to detail.
• Competent in IT packages (e.g., Outlook, WORD) with good keyboard skills.
• At least 2 years of successful experience in personal injury case handling or costs recovery in Intermediate and Multi Track matters.
• Trained to a high level of understanding the CPR.
• Enthusiastic, committed, accountable, and trustworthy with a willingness to learn and undertake continuing training and development.

Benefits

• Contributory pension scheme
• 5 days additional leave over Christmas
• Permanent health insurance
• Healthcare Cash Plan (Medicash)
• Life assurance
• 23 days annual leave (in addition to bank holidays)
• Employee Assistance Programme
• Enhanced maternity and paternity pay
• Cycle to work scheme
• Subsidised sports and social club
• Annual travel and parking loans
• Financial assistance for professional development 
   

About Thompsons Solicitors

For 100 years, leading social justice law firm, Thompsons Solicitors, has been fighting for the rights of the injured and mistreated and changing lives for the better. Since 1921, we have stood shoulder-to-shoulder with trade unions to implement key legal reforms and give a voice to those who might otherwise have been disadvantaged and marginalised.

Thompsons ran:
• the case that established the right for injured workers to be compensated in 1937
• the first asbestos case that was successful in the House of Lords in 1972
• the first equal pay for equal value claim in the UK (1988) and later in Europe (1993)
• the case against UK construction companies for blacklisting union members in 2016
• hundreds of cases on behalf of women who received negligent treatment at the hands of disgraced breast surgeon, Ian Paterson (2017) and behalf of those injured by mesh (2019).

Today, Thompsons employs 800 staff who work at 18 offices right across the UK. Key areas of legal specialism include: personal injury, serious injury, asbestos diseases, medical negligence, road traffic accidents, accidents at work, industrial diseases and trade union law. As a point of principle, the firm has never worked for employers or insurers.

Over the last 100 years, we have consistently won the cases that have advanced the law for working people, but, as long as there are employers who put profit before the safety and rights of their workforce, there is always more to do. We continue to expose injustice, holding those responsible to account and campaigning for positive change. 

We want to hear from anyone who is keen to progress a legal career with a firm that won’t let up in its quest for fairness.