Costs Lawyer / Solicitor / Associate - Norwich, Ipswich, Chelmsford, Cambridge, SevenoaksBirketts is a full service, UK Top 50 law firm. With a heritage spanning 160 years, we have more than 700 lawyers and legal professionals and over 600 staff based in Bristol, Cambridge, Chelmsford, Ipswich, London, Norwich and Sevenoaks. We advise businesses, government and public sector organisations and individuals in the UK and internationally across four principal practice groups: Real Estate, Corporate Services, Dispute Resolution and Private Client.We are defined by our Next Level Law proposition. We work with our clients as a proactive partner, horizon scanning and thinking ahead to the changes, challenges or opportunities that they may face.Next Level Law is also applied to our people. Our collegiate culture means everyone is encouraged to achieve their next level in everything they do. RollOnFriday recently ranked us as the 6th best law firm to work at in 2026.With our ambition to succeed, comes a strong desire to make a positive contribution to the communities we serve, and we are committed to delivering the objectives set out in our ESG strategy. Diversity plays an integral part in all that we do, with female partners comprising 42% of our partnership.Our client base is diverse and ranges from individuals to multinationalcorporations, via legal professionals across the civil litigation sector,with a particular emphasis in the insurance, shipping, commerciallitigation, property litigation, construction and social housing sectors.Prepare/Assess Bills of Costs, draft Points of Dispute/Replies to Points of Dispute, advise clients on settlement parameters and negotiate with opponentsCosts management - Prepare Precedent H, Precedent R or simplified costs budgeting equivalent, engage in budget discussions and potentially attend hearingsPrepare Statements of CostsProvided ad hoc advice on costs issuesKeep abreast of legal updates and provide updates to the wider teamMaintain accurate time-costing proceduresEnsure compliance with file managementProvide supervision to team membersPlease note that this job profile is not an exhaustive list of duties but merely an outline of the key components of the role. You may be required by your line manager to take on additional responsibilities when requested.We are seeking an ambitious, driven and forward-thinking Costs Lawyer or Costs SolicitorA strong academic backgroundMinimum of 3 years experiencePrior supervisory experience an advantageClear understanding and application of civil procedure rules relating to costsCosts negotiation experience essentialExperience of social housing disrepair and/or Court of Protection preferable.Excellent attention to detail together with analytical and organisational skills.Committed team player who can adapt well to new challenges.Strong ability to work to tight deadlinesAbility to use own initiative and show sound judgementStrong IT Skills - familiar with Microsoft Office applications and document management skillsBirketts is a flexible business which has embraced a hybrid working model where our colleagues enjoy a mix of home and office working. This role attracts a split of 60% office days and 40% working from home days per week.As a Birketts colleague, you will be eligible to receive a wide range of benefits:25 days holiday (FTE) plus Bank HolidaysLong Service holiday award 1 extra week every 10 years continuous servicePrivate Healthcare with BUPA (offered after probation is passed)Scottish Widows Pension Scheme (5% employer / 5% Employee)Staff Profit Share and Individual Performance Bonus SchemeSalary sacrifice (Pensions, Staff Profit Share)Life Assurance - 4 x salary / Permanent Health InsurancePaid CSR DayEnhanced Maternity/Paternity LeaveSubsidised gym membershipElectric car schemeDress for your Day PolicyYou can find out more on our website:https://www.birketts.co.uk/recognition-reward-benefits/At Birketts, our culture is driven by ambition and a commitment to positively impact all the communities we serve. We are dedicated to the success, development, and wellbeing of our colleagues, helping them achieve their goals and seize the opportunities that come with our growth.Birketts is committed to being an Equal Opportunity Employer. Our policy is unequivocal: we do not tolerate discrimination based on age, disability, sex, race, religion or belief, gender reassignment, marriage or civil partnership, pregnancy or maternity, or sexual orientation.We pride ourselves on being an inclusive organisation that actively promotes equality of opportunity for all, valuing the right mix of talent, skills, and potential. We welcome applications from a diverse range of candidates, and selection for roles is based solely on individual merit.