Costs Lawyer
Specialist lawyers who deal with the costs of legal proceedings — assessing, negotiating, and litigating how much legal fees should be in civil and criminal cases.
Overview
Costs Lawyers are a distinct and specialist branch of the legal profession, authorised to handle all matters relating to legal costs in England & Wales. They are regulated by the Costs Lawyer Standards Board (CLSB) and there are approximately 600 practising Costs Lawyers — making it one of the smallest but most specialised legal professions.
Legal costs are a major issue in litigation. When a case is won, the losing party is usually ordered to pay the winner's legal costs. But how much? Costs Lawyers step in to assess, negotiate, and if necessary litigate the amount of legal fees that should be paid. They also advise on costs budgeting (predicting how much a case will cost) and funding arrangements.
The work is highly technical, combining detailed knowledge of civil procedure, costs rules, and funding regulations. Costs Lawyers prepare bills of costs (detailed breakdowns of legal fees), negotiate costs settlements, and represent clients at detailed assessment hearings before costs judges. They work for law firms, specialist costs firms, insurers, and in-house legal teams.
The Costs Lawyer qualification is one of the most accessible in the legal profession — no degree is required, and the course can be completed in three years while working. Despite the small size of the profession, demand is strong because every piece of litigation involves costs, and the rules are too complex for most solicitors to handle in-house.
Day-to-Day Work
- Preparing detailed bills of costs for court assessment
- Negotiating costs settlements with opposing parties
- Advising solicitors and clients on costs budgeting and case funding
- Attending detailed assessment hearings before costs judges
- Drafting costs budgets for case management conferences
- Advising on conditional fee agreements (no win, no fee) and damages-based agreements
- Challenging or defending costs claims on appeal
- Advising on legal aid costs and criminal costs regulations
How to Qualify
Complete the Costs Lawyer qualification (a three-year modular course provided by the Association of Costs Lawyers). No degree is required. Must also complete a period of supervised practice. The course covers civil procedure, costs practice, legal aid, and professional ethics.
Enter costs work
Start as a costs draftsman or costs assistant at a law firm or specialist costs practice.
Costs Lawyer qualification
Part-time modular course alongside employment. Annual examinations.
Supervised practice
Work under the supervision of a qualified Costs Lawyer or solicitor.
Practising certificate
Apply to the CLSB for your practising certificate.
Typical Costs
Salary Ranges
Key Skills
Pros & Cons
Advantages
- Niche specialism with strong demand
- No degree required — accessible qualification
- Earn while you learn
- Small profession — less competition, strong network
- Good earning potential for experienced practitioners
- Every litigation case needs costs expertise
Disadvantages
- Highly technical and detail-heavy work
- Small profession — limited employer choice
- Can be perceived as less 'glamorous' than courtroom work
- Rules change frequently — constant CPD needed
- Disputes can be adversarial and drawn-out
- Irregular workload tied to litigation volumes
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Last updated: 2025-03-01