Job Description

Complex Injury Claims Junior Costs Negotiator

Application Deadline: 16 October 2026

Department: Legal

Employment Type: Permanent - Full Time

Location: Newcastle

Description

Junior costs negotiator required to work on defendant large loss cases. Drafting and negotiating budgets. Drafting points of dispute and negotiating costs settlements. Advising lawyers on costs points.

Purpose

To prepare Precedent H and analyse Claimant’s Precedent H and prepare Precedent R. To enter into negotiations on the budgets.

To negotiate costs on RTA/EL/PL matters. To pursue the settlement of costs as soon as practicably possible. It is important that the job holder can quickly review files & formulate initial costs strategy, provide comprehensive advice to clients, commence early telephone negotiations with other side and liaise, as required, with Insurers throughout the life of the file.

Key Accountabilities

• Responsible for management of own caseload using in-house case management system including timely and accurate maintenance of the system along with billing and management information – ensuring completeness of records in order to aid business decision making.
• Responsible for hitting chargeable hours target every day.
• Delegation of tasks where available and appropriate to other members of the team.
• 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.

Working Hours

35 hours per week

Monday-Friday 9am-5pm with 1 hour unpaid for lunch.

Primary location for this role is Newcastle office.

Experience, Skills and Qualifications

• Previous experience of client liaison.
• Good standard of education – 3 GCSE’s grade C or above or equivalent including Maths, English & Science as a minimum.
• Good telephone negotiation skills
• Previous experience of handling own caseload.
• Have an understanding of the Detailed Assessment process, Cost Case Laws and Insurance Litigation practice & process.
• Ability to use own initiative.
• Ability to plan and prioritise workloads.
• Excellent listening and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to make decisions.
• Ability to remain calm under pressure.

Values

Our culture is focussed on making Keoghs sustainable and successful for our people and clients, with this our four values are at the heart of everything we do;

Our 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