Costs Lawyers/Draftspersons – Grade 6 and Grade 7 roles

Job summary

From healthcare to artificial intelligence, energy to national security, we provide legal advice to government departments on nation-changing subjects.

At Government Legal Department we have a vital, single-minded purpose: to help the Government govern well within the rule of law. This is complemented by our exciting vision to be an outstanding legal organisation, committed to the highest standards of service and professionalism and a brilliant place to work where we can all thrive and fulfill our potential.

Our work touches almost every aspect of public life. We are the largest provider of legal services across government, working on high profile matters.

Our respected professionals are involved in everything from regulation and litigation to advice on drafting legislation. They provide expertise to the full range of government departments. We are at the heart of delivering the government’s priorities and our success depends on our people.

GLD is a non-ministerial government department headed by the Treasury Solicitor, our Permanent Secretary, and employs nearly 4000 people, including nearly 3000 legal professionals. We have offices nationwide, in Bristol, Leeds, inner and outer London and Manchester. Our lawyers can also be located within other departments and overseas.

GLD also depends on a range of cross-functional professionals to provide our corporate services. There are nearly 1000 colleagues playing an essential part in helping GLD to achieve its purpose and truly deliver much more than law.

This is an exciting time to join GLD, with cutting edge legal work on global issues and a transformation agenda which is ensuring the Department exemplifies the Modern Civil Service.

To find out more about what we do you can view our introductory film. On our website you can hear from team members, find out how to apply and learn about the benefits of working for GLD. You can also read more about the future vision for GLD in our GLD Strategy 2024 – 2027.

Job description

About the Litigation Directorate and Costs Team

The Costs team sits within the Litigation Directorate of the Government Legal Department, which delivers litigation services to the majority of UK government departments and executive agencies, as well as to many non‑departmental public bodies. Its work frequently raises issues of constitutional importance and spans a broad range of subject matter across public and private law. In addition to mainstream litigation, the Directorate supports major public inquiries and inquests, reflecting its central role in complex and sensitive government legal work.

Lawyers within the Directorate regularly appear before a wide range of courts and tribunals, including Coroners’ Courts, the Asylum and Immigration Tribunal, the Royal Courts of Justice, and the Supreme Court.

While the Cost Litigation Team is located within this Justice and Development Division, the team works across the whole Directorate and beyond.

The team is a Centre of Excellence which reflects the cross‑cutting nature of legal costs work and the need for specialist expertise to be available across all government litigation.

Its core function is dealing with adverse costs claims, recovery of costs and budgeting, combined with the provision of specialist advice on costs matters. The team delivers services across areas such as judicial review, personal injury, clinical negligence, planning, inquests and public inquiries, human rights, employment, land tribunal matters, commercial litigation, and charities law.

The work undertaken by the team is frequently complex and important. It can also be high‑profile and, at times, unique. Costs disputes arising from public law challenges, major inquiries, or Supreme Court litigation often involve novel points or substantial sums, requiring a high level of expertise and judgment. The team’s role in these matters places it at the forefront of legal costs practice within the public sector.

Members of the Cost Litigation Team attend hearings in a range of courts, including the Senior Courts Costs Office and the Supreme Court.

In addition to its internal capability, the team is supported by a panel of external costs service providers. This panel provides additional capacity and specialist support, enabling the team to manage fluctuating demand and particularly complex or resource‑intensive matters.

The Role

We are looking to fill one Grade 6 Senior Cost Lawyer/Draftsperson post and 3 Grade 7 Costs Lawyer/Draftsperson posts. These have come about as part of our commitment to grow and develop the team as a designated Centre of Excellence.

This is an exciting opportunity for experienced Costs Lawyers/Draftspersons with proven, technical and management skills to deal with often complex, high value and high-profile matters and also help to improve and drive the delivery of the team’s service in HM Government work​

The post holders will be expected to:​

• Provide management and technical support to team members and the Deputy Director, contributing actively to team management.
• Line manage and develop a team of one or more junior Costs Lawyers, Costs Draftspersons and trainees, fostering a supportive environment while maintaining quality and performance.
• Manage a caseload of complex, high-value and high-profile costs matters, including group litigation with support.
• Advise colleagues and clients on costs issues, from discrete matters to wider costs strategies.
• Support the delivery of team and directorate objectives and promote continuous improvement.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with clients and litigation teams.
• Have an in-depth sound understanding of CPR and litigation process and share up-to-date knowledge of costs law and procedure with colleagues and clients.
• Champion our "centre of excellence" status by sharing up-to-date knowledge of costs law and procedure with colleagues and clients, and delivering or supporting training.
• Ensure quality service delivery in line with Lexcel and GLD service standards.

Whilst both roles will involve managing a caseload of complex and high-profile costs matters and contributing to the development of the Costs Centre of Excellence, the Grade 6 post carries additional responsibility for the strategic leadership and development of the costs team. The Grade 6 post holder will act as one of, along with the two existing G6’s, the senior technical authorities on costs matters, support the Deputy Director in the management of the team, lead on strategically significant or novel costs issues, and play a key role in shaping service delivery, capability development and stakeholder engagement across GLD and its clients.

Recruitment and Retention Scheme

The Costs Team operates a recruitment and retention scheme. A recruitment and retention allowance of £1,500 pa is paid to staff who perform at least to a satisfactory standard. A further £1,544 pa is paid to staff who commit to study and obtain the Costs Lawyer Professional Qualification (CLPQ) qualification.

Qualified Costs Lawyers receive an allowance of £6,174 pa inclusive of all other allowances which includes the recruitment and retention allowance.

These allowances are specific to this post and will be withdrawn if the succe