Costs Draftsperson

Costs About Us Established in 2000, Express Solicitors is an award‑winning, no win no fee law firm specialising exclusively in personal injury claims. Headquartered in Manchester, we support clients nationwide across all areas of personal injury, including employers’ liability, serious injury, clinical negligence, occupiers’ and public liability, road traffic accidents and industrial disease.

We are ranked 64th in The Lawyer UK Top 200, out of more than 10,000 law firms nationwide, and after achieving a 20% year‑on‑year growth, Express Solicitors are the largest personal injury claimant firm in the UK.

Our commitment to outstanding client care is reflected in our Trustpilot rating of 4.8 (Excellent), placing us among the highest‑rated firms in the sector.

The Role We are currently looking for a Cost Draftsperson to join our established costs department of 40 plus.

This position will be to support other senior case handlers with their drafting requirements, working in an assisting capacity.

The ideal candidate will possess 2 to 10 years’ experience working either in-house or for an external supplier of costs drafting services. They will have experience of preparing formal bills and supplementary documents for detailed assessment on fast track & multi track cases.

This is an exciting opportunity for a Draftsperson to work with a thriving in house team, in the personal injury and clinical negligence field.

The role also offers excellent career development prospects for the right candidate, as the firm offers training contracts or support through the ACL qualification, for those candidates who prove themselves.

Responsibilities

• Reporting to the Dept Head and Line Manager.
• Working to WIP target.
• Drafting work to estimated completion dates set by supervisor.
• Drafting formal bills for inter partes detailed assessment.
• Drafting N260 statements of costs.
• Preparing risk assessments.
• Preparing Part 8 proceedings for issue.
• Investigating all disbursement liabilities.
• Accurately reviewing the client ledger and accounts information.
• Completing Work Check lists.
• Preparing Precedent S and Q documents.
• Commencing Detailed Assessment proceedings on approved work.

Person Specification

• 2 to 10 year’s drafting experience in the claimant personal injury sector.
• Completion of a legal qualification (LLB, GDL, LPC) desirable.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills.
• Drafting skills associated with completing Precedent H, R and Q and finalising formal bills in Multi Track and budgeted cases.
• Experience of working to target.
• You will have a flexible approach and be able to respond to rapid changes in working schedules and priorities. For this, you will need to be organised and able to communicate clearly with people at all levels.
• Applicants should be committed and hardworking individuals who enjoy operating in a pressurised and highly motivated team environment. You will be able to demonstrate the ability to work on your own initiative with the minimum of supervision.
• Knowledge of time recording procedures.
• Working knowledge of the Civil Procedures Rules and Detailed Assessment process.
• Analytical skills and attention to detail are essential.
• Consistently produce work which is accurate and well-presented.
• The role involves the use of IT systems and therefore computer literacy, including a working knowledge of Microsoft Office packages is essential.
• Experience of using Proclaim Case Management System and Costs Master software is essential.
• Experience of working in-house.

Salary & Hours

• Salary of £30,000 to £50,000, dependent on experience.
• Our standard working hours are 8:30am to 5:30pm Monday-Thursday and 8:30am to 5pm Friday.

Benefits Hybrid Working Hybrid working pattern.

23 Days Holiday Rising to 26 days, plus bank/public holidays.

Extra Holidays 3 holiday buy backs and an extra day for your birthday after service length requirement.

Looking After Your Health Private medical insurance available after 2 years’ service, annual flu jab and Employee Assistance Programme.

Looking After Your Well-being 24/7 offsite Gym, Netball/Football team, 10km Manchester team and more.

Work Life / Balance Active social committee with generous departmental and firm-wide social budget.

Recruitment Process Interviews will be conducted by MS Teams and will include scenario-based questioning.

Our employees are our most important asset, we rate skill and ability above all else and our recruitment policy encourages applications from all.