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

You will be responsible for your own caseload, progressing each file from receipt of papers from the Legacy team to resolution of costs. The role will include:

• 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
• To 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 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

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