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Costs Budgeter
Application Deadline: 30 July 2026
Department: Legal
Employment Type: Permanent - Full Time
Location: Bolton
Description
Keoghs is seeking an experienced Costs Budgeter to join our specialist Legacy & Military team, managed by Darren Lee.
Within this role, you will draft Precedent H and analyse Claimant’s Precedent H and prepare Precedent R on a range of Legacy / Military claims, entering into successful negotiation on these budgets within the costs management process in preparation for CCMC.
This is an excellent opportunity for a costs professional looking to further develop their technical expertise, working on complex and often high-value Legacy and Military claims.
Key Responsibilities
- Responsible for your own caseload, progressing each file from receipt of papers from the Legacy team to resolution of costs.
- Proactively reviewing cases to formulate costs strategy and settlement parameters.
- Drafting Precedent H.
- Preparing Precedent R on opponent’s Precedent H and compliance with costs case management orders.
- Preparing points of dispute; and considering replies.
- Identifying and documenting strengths and weaknesses of own case and opponent’s case.
- Using the telephone to discuss; put forward meritorious arguments; and negotiate settlement of costs.
- Updating reports to clients of progress made in resolving costs claimed.
- Dealing with correspondence and telephone calls received within SLAs.
- Undertaking periodic reviews of files in line with client requirements.
- Settlement of costs within agreed negotiation parameters.
- Instructing counsel to attend detailed assessment hearings and mediations, remotely and in person.
- Delivery of agreed performance targets; Keoghs quality standards; and client’s SLAs, KPIs and MI requirements.
- Delegate assigned tasks to a Paralegal and be fully engaged in their development in terms of technical ability and achievement of objectives.
- Ensure compliance with the SRA Standards & Regulations.
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Working Hours
- 28 - 35 hours per week
- Monday – Friday 9am – 5pm with 1 unpaid hour for lunch.
- Primary location for this role is Bolton or Birmingham Office. (1 day a week office attendance)
Skills, Knowledge and Expertise
- 2 years’ experience as a minimum in a similar costs budgeter or negotiator role, either for claimant or defendant, handling own caseload.
- Degree and/or LPC and/or ALCD.
- Previous experience of client liaison - taking instructions and providing advice both verbally and in writing.
- Experience of the Detailed Assessment process including preparing Precedent H, Precedent R, Bills, Schedules of Costs, Budgets, Points of Dispute and considering replies.
- Good telephone negotiation skills.
- Conducted own advocacy.
- An understanding of current cost case law and insurance litigation practice and process.
- Ability to use own initiative and make decisions.
- Ability to plan and prioritise workloads and to remain calm under pressure.
- Excellent listening and verbal communication skills.
- Ability to act as part of a team.
- Proficient IT skills in Microsoft packages.
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Benefits
- Davies Incentive Plan.
- 25 days holiday per year which increases with level of service (opportunity to buy & sell 3 days).
- Family Cover Private Medical Insurance (Bupa).
- Simply Health Care Cash Plan.
- WeCare – 24/7 online GP, mental health support and virtual wellbeing covering a whole host of topics to do with health, mental health, wellbeing & healthy living and financial & legal wellbeing.
- Death in Service.
- Critical Illness Cover.
- PHI/Income Protection (Private health insurance).
- Pension Contribution based 5% Employee / 3% Employer.
- 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 nationwide.
- Discounts at local retail outlets.
* after successfully completing probation.
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