Costs Negotiator




Application Deadline: 30 October 2026




Department: Legal




Employment Type: Permanent - Full Time




Location: Newcastle




Reporting To: Team Leader




Description



Are you looking to develop your career in legal costs and gain experience working on
defendant large loss matters ?



Keoghs is looking for a
Junior Costs Negotiator to join our Newcastle team. This is a great opportunity for someone with some existing costs experience who is ready to take the next step, broaden their technical knowledge and build their confidence handling their own caseload.



You'll work on a varied portfolio of
RTA, EL and PL matters , with exposure to budgeting, costs negotiations and detailed assessment work. You'll also work closely with lawyers and insurers, giving you the opportunity to develop both your technical expertise and commercial approach.




What You'll Be Doing



Your role will include:

• Managing your own caseload from initial review through to settlement


• Drafting Precedent H costs budgets and analysing Claimants' budgets


• Preparing Precedent R and ensuring compliance with Costs Case Management Orders


• Drafting Points of Dispute and considering Replies


• Negotiating costs settlements on RTA, EL and PL matters


• Conducting early telephone negotiations with opponents


• Advising lawyers on costs issues and strategy


• Liaising with insurers throughout the life of a file


• Identifying the most effective costs strategy and working towards early resolution


• Maintaining accurate case management, billing and management information

What we're looking for



You don't need years of experience to make an impact in this role. We're looking for someone who has a
minimum of six months' experience within a costs environment and understands the fundamentals of costs work.



You'll ideally bring:

• Experience managing your own caseload


• Good telephone negotiation and communication skills


• Previous client liaison experience


• An understanding of the Detailed Assessment process, costs case law and insurance litigation


• Strong organisation and prioritisation skills


• Confidence using your own initiative and making decisions


• The ability to remain calm and focused when managing competing priorities

Why join Us?



This is an excellent opportunity to develop your costs career while gaining exposure to
complex defendant large loss work . You'll have the chance to strengthen your budgeting and negotiation skills, work alongside experienced legal professionals and build the technical knowledge needed to progress your career in costs.




Our culture is shaped by four values:



We are Connected | We are Dynamic | We are Innovative | We Succeed Together




Benefits

• Davies Incentive Plan


• 25 days holiday per year which increases with level of service (opportunity to buy & sell 3 days)


• 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 - after 1 years' service


• 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