Description
We are seeking a Junior Costs Negotiator to join our team at Davies. As a Junior Costs Negotiator, you will be responsible for pursuing the settlement of legal costs on a range of MOD disease claims. You will proactively review cases, formulate an initial costs strategy and settlement parameters, provide comprehensive advice to clients, and commence early telephone negotiations with opponents.
Key Responsibilities:
- Manage your own caseload, progressing each file from receipt of papers to resolution of costs
- Proactively review cases to formulate an initial costs strategy and settlement parameters
- Prepare points of dispute and consider replies
- Identify and document strengths and weaknesses of own case and opponent's costs claimed
- Use the telephone to discuss, put forward meritorious arguments, and negotiate settlement of costs
- Update reports to clients of progress made in resolving costs claimed
- Deal with correspondence and telephone calls received within SLAs
- Undertake periodic reviews of files in line with client requirements
- Settle costs within agreed negotiation parameters
- Instruct counsel and attend conferences, detailed assessment hearings, and mediations
- Attend court for application hearings, detailed assessment hearings, and mediations to conduct own advocacy
- Deliver agreed performance targets, quality standards, and client's SLAs, KPIs, and MI requirements
- Delegate assigned tasks to a Paralegal and contribute to their development
- Ensure compliance with the SRA Standards & Regulations
Working Hours:
- 28-35 hours per week
- Monday-Friday, 9am-5pm with 1 unpaid hour for lunch
- Primary location for this role is Liverpool, Birmingham, or Bolton office
Skills, Knowledge & Expertise:
- Ideally, experience as a junior costs negotiator handling own caseload
- Degree and/or LPC and/or ALCD
- Previous experience of client liaison, taking instructions, and providing advice
- Knowledge of the Detailed Assessment process and relevant CPR provisions relating to costs
- Good telephone negotiation skills
- Understanding of current cost case law and insurance litigation practice and process
- Ability to use own initiative and make decisions
- Ability to plan and prioritize workloads and remain calm under pressure
- Excellent listening and verbal communication skills
- Ability to act as part of a team
- Proficient IT skills in Microsoft packages
Benefits:
- Davies Incentive Plan
- 25 days holiday per year
- Simply Health Care Cash Plan
- WeCare – 24/7 online GP, mental health support, and virtual wellbeing
- Death In Service
- Pension Contribution
- Employee Resource Groups
- Employee Volunteering Programme
- Cycle to Work Scheme
- Tech Scheme
- Season Ticket Loan
- Gym Flex
- Access to Online Discount Sites
- Discounted Gourmet Society Membership
- Discounted Tickets for Merlin Attractions
- Discounts at local retail outlets