We are expanding and building on our already established and dynamic National Costs Department at Thompsons Solicitors LLP with experienced and Law Costs professionals looking to make a significant impact. This is an opportunity for a highly skilled costs professional to join one of our expert specialist costs teams across our national structure, managing a diverse caseload of high value costs matters often of significant value and wider public importance. The role involves handling PI Multi Track cases, including Serious Injury, Asbestos, Clinical Negligence, and high-cost matters, from the preparation of cost budgets through to the preparation and negotiation of bills of costs during the detailed assessment process.
We are keen to hear from applicants based across the UK, with the opportunity to be based in any of our Thompsons Solicitors LLP branch locations plus there is the benefits of both our agile and flexible working policies.
In this role, you will have a full caseload of some of the more high-profile matters in the firm and will be responsible for a case from preparing Costs Budgets (Precedent H), Statements of Costs for Summary Assessment (N260s), Estimates, to the preparation of the Formal Bills of Costs. You will also be responsible for negotiating costs budgets and bills of costs, settling claims for costs on the best possible terms. You will have the opportunity to attend a variety of hearings to include Costs CMCs, Detailed Assessment hearings and application hearings. You will work closely with PI Lawyers and will form part of the legal team, advising on live claims and in more complex and technical costs matters you will liaise and work alongside with both Junior and Leading Counsel. Alongside managing all aspects of your own caseload in line with Costs Department protocols and service standards, you will lead by example and play a key role in supporting colleagues by providing day-to-day coaching and technical guidance as a “Supervision Buddy.”
We are looking for an experienced, confident and organised individual who can work independently while also contributing effectively within a team. Strong written and verbal communication skills are essential, along with the ability to demonstrate persuasive advocacy, confident negotiation and a professional telephone manner. You will have excellent attention to detail, strong file management and organisational skills, and be comfortable using standard IT packages such as Outlook and Word. Experience of Costs Master would be beneficial.
We welcome applications from experienced Law Costs professionals who are looking to join our collaborative and forward-thinking Costs Department. Whilst qualified Costs Lawyers are preferred, we would also welcome applications from Chartered Legal Executives and Solicitors. Ideally, you will have significant experience in a wide range of high value Multi Track personal injury matters and a good understanding of the CPR.
The Costs Department at Thompsons Solicitors offers a clear incremental grading structure and progress pathway with regular training to enable and promote development. Other firm benefits are listed below which include:
Benefits
- £4,000 car allowance in addition to base salary
- Permanent health insurance
- Healthcare Cash Plan (MediCash)
- Life assurance
- Contributory pension scheme
- Generous annual leave allowances that increase with service (in addition to bank holidays)
- Additional discretionary leave over Christmas and Christmas shut down benefits
- Employee Assistance Programme
- Enhanced maternity and paternity pay
- Cycle to work scheme
- Disability Confident Employer
- Organised sports and social club supported by the firm
- Annual travel and parking loans
- Financial assistance for professional development
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.
Visit www.thompsons.law or call 0800 0 224 224
Thompsons Solicitors is a trading name of Thompsons Solicitors LLP.
