Costs Lawyer - Norwich or Regional offices

The role

We are looking to recruit an experienced costs lawyer to support with litigation work across the firm.  This is a new role which will combine some of the traditional elements of contentious costs work with an opportunity to work with our litigation fee earners to develop a more holistic approach to costs in order to enhance the costs information we provide to clients and to develop innovative pricing solutions.   

There is scope to develop and expand the current range of costs services undertaken in-house but it is anticipated that initially the work will include:

• Supervising the preparation of statements of costs and costs budgets undertaken by paralegals in the Litigation Services Team
• Advising and supporting litigation fee earners to ensure that there is transparency and certainty in the costs information our clients receive
• Collating and analysing costs data to enhance accurate cost estimating
• Assisting litigation fee earners to understand and address the challenges presented by changes to the civil costs regime e.g. the extension of fixed recoverable costs
• Working with litigation partners and fee earners to develop innovative pricing solutions for our clients
• Assisting with commercial risk assessment in relation to conditional fee agreements, damages based agreements and other risk sharing arrangements
• Advising on costs claims and settlement parameters
• Advising on cost disputes with clients

The person

You will be a qualified and experienced costs lawyer with a thorough understanding of the entire litigation process. 

You will be able to demonstrate:

• Excellent communication and inter-personal skills
• An ability to work collaboratively with colleagues and clients
• Excellent technical abilities as a costs lawyer
• Previous supervisory / management experience
• Excellent IT and analytical skills
• Innovative thinking
• Strong self-motivation and drive
• A proven track record for developing and supporting junior colleagues
• Responsibility for keeping up to date with best practice and developments in costs law and an enthusiasm for providing support and training to others to understand the implications of any changes

Why Should I Apply?

This is an exciting opportunity to join a major UK law firm and the only UK law firm to be named for a record 20th year running as one of the Sunday Times’ 100 Best Companies to Work For.  As part of its 2025 Strategy, the firm has committed to being a leader in client experience and this new role will be an important component of ensuring that the firm adheres to this pledge by consistently providing our litigation clients with transparency and certainty on costs.

Who Will I Be Working With?

You will be part of the Litigation Services Team, which is currently based in the Norwich office but may expand into other offices in the future.  The team is led by a Principal Associate and comprises a Senior Chartered Legal Executive, a Senior Paralegal and six paralegals.  The team provides high quality litigation support to the Firm’s litigation teams and undertakes a diverse range of tasks which includes the production of statements of costs and cost budgets for cases handled by the firm’s 220+ litigation fee earners.  Part of the role will be to supervise and develop the paralegals who undertake this work, with scope to significantly expand the current internal costs service.   It is envisaged that the role will also involve analysing costs data and then working directly with the litigation partners and fee earners across the firm to improve the costs information provided to clients at the outset of a claim and to enhance engagement with clients by developing innovative pricing solutions.

Pre-employment screening

Please note that, in the event that we make an offer of employment, we will conduct pre-employment screening that includes checks relating to your professional and academic qualifications, references from previous employers, your eligibility to work in the UK and any disciplinary history recorded with the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA). You will also be required to complete a self-declaration to assess your character and suitability.

Disclosure and barring service check and security clearance

This post is also subject to a satisfactory response from the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) (to check for any previous criminal convictions and cautions) and, given the nature of the work-type, you may also be required to undergo national security vetting to SC level – the latter can be undertaken following commencement of employment.

And finally

Mills & Reeve is committed to building a diverse workforce and fostering an inclusive environment in which all our people can thrive. We hire people from a wide variety of backgrounds because it makes our firm stronger, and we have a collaborative culture that celebrates different perspectives and values respect for one another, working together, and openness and integrity. Our approach to flexible working means that we work in a way that achieves the right balance for our people, our clients and for our business.