Law Costs Draftsman

We’re a national law firm with a local reach. Our philosophy is ‘Expert Hand, Human Touch’ – something you’ll find in the way we work with our clients and how we support our teams. But, we’re more than just a law firm – we’re a team, working together to help individuals and businesses navigate life’s ups and downs.

Whichever team you join, working here you’ll feel a part of our friendly and inclusive environment. We’ll value you for who you are and what you bring. We support each other and push boundaries to achieve incredible things, and make a real difference to our clients and communities.

The work we do has been recognised in the awards we’ve won. We’re committed to being even better, and our awards help to show we’re on the right track.

We recognise that the office 9-5 isn’t for everyone. That’s why we’ve introduced ‘Flexible by Choice’. Whether it’s working from home, in our offices, or a combination of the both, we trust each other to support our clients, colleagues and communities at the right time, in the right way.

The Costs Team provides a service to our fee earners who deal with recovery of costs in contentious practice areas, their primary aim is dealing with the preparation of bills of costs, negotiation and advocacy within the detailed assessment of costs proceedings. Our Costs structure gives our costs lawyers an unrivalled breadth of experience including areas of law as diverse as personal injury, commercial litigation, family cases and Court of Protection.

Some of the things we’ve being doing recently:

• Merrix v Heart of England Foundation Trust 2017 – when the Bill of Costs submitted for this case was less than the Court-approved Costs Budget, we argued that the Court shouldn’t deviate from an approved Budget without a good reason.
• Chad Mole v Parkdean Holiday Parks Ltd – we successfully defended a challenge against our legal costs when the Official Solicitor took over the role of litigation friends of our infant client.

This is an excellent opportunity for an experienced ambitious individual to join a growing national team. You’ll be involved in the preparation of Bills of Costs for Detailed/Provisional Assessment as well as litigation of bills through the Court process. You may be involved in advocacy at Court if required and as agreed with the Costs Partner. Part of your role will give you the opportunity to lead a team of around 5 members and you’ll also be involved in the training of Trainee Law Costs Draftsmen. Ideally you’ll have minimum one year experience working either in house or for an external supplier of costs drafting services. Ideally this is a Sheffield based role however; we’re keen to accommodate what’s best for you, so we are open to discussions about remote working.

• Experience either in house or for an external supplier of Costs
• Management experience (if this a team leader role?)
• Basic knowledge of legal procedures
• Experience in one or more legal departments
• Be able to work in a pressurised and stressful environment
• A flexible approach enabling you to respond to rapid changes in working schedules and priorities
• Ability to communicate clearly with stakeholders across the business
• Desirable financial or legal qualifications e.g.: ILEX Part 1 Year 1
• Desirable Financial or law degree

We’re proud of our values, and we’re looking for people who share them:

• To be pioneering with an imaginative outlook
• To be approachable and caring
• To be tenacious in the pursuit of our objectives
• To be efficient in the provision of our services
• To work with a foundation of integrity.

If this sounds like you, we’d love to receive your application.

• 25 days annual leave, with the opportunity to buy additional leave
• Two fundraising days in a year to give back to the community (fully paid!)
• Westfield Health membership, offering discounted leisure and travel and refunds on medical services

We also offer a huge number of well-being initiatives to encourage positive mental health both in and out of the workplace as well as flexible working options to ensure that you are fully supported to work the way that best suits you. Our social responsibility programme is fundamental to who we are. We’re committed to being a diverse and inclusive workplace where our colleagues can flourish. We have a range of groups to celebrate our people across sexuality, disability, age, gender and culture.

We welcome applications from all diversity groups and backgrounds. We’re committed to enabling everyone to thrive and understanding and celebrating our differences is a key part of that. We’re proud of our work on the Disability Confident scheme, on the Race At Work Charter and as Stonewall Diversity Champions. We also have a range of networks for LGBT+, disability, generations, gender, social mobility, ethnicity, faith and culture to celebrate our people and to enable everyone to thrive.

As part of the Irwin Mitchell Group’s on-boarding process all successful applicants are required to complete the group’s employment screening process. This process helps to ensure that all new employees meet our standards in relation to honesty and integrity therefore protecting the interests of the Group, existing employees, clients, partners and other stakeholders.

Depending on the role you apply for we may carry out checks that will establish your eligibility to work in the UK, and criminal record check and financial checks with a credit reference agency will also be undertaken.

The employment screening process will fully comply with Data Protection and other applicable laws.

Irwin Mitchell LLP is an equal opportunity employer.