top of page

Careers at SPH Costs

Updated 2 April 2026

Costs Lawyer Jobs | Costs Draftsman Roles | Legal Costs Careers (England & Wales – Remote, Hybrid or Office-Based)

SPH Costs is a specialist legal costs practice operating across the jurisdiction of England & Wales, offering career opportunities for Costs Lawyers, Law Costs Draftsmen and Legal Costs Professionals at all stages. We are currently actively recruiting experienced Costs Lawyers and mid-level Costs Draftsmen, alongside trainee and junior candidates seeking to build a long-term career in legal costs.

Our roles are available on a remote, hybrid or office-based basis, and are open to candidates across England & Wales, including UK-based applicants working within this jurisdiction.

 

Apply: hr@sphcosts.com
 

Why Join SPH Costs

SPH Costs is a specialist-only costs practice focused exclusively on litigation costs under the Civil Procedure Rules (CPR).  Our team works on technically demanding matters including:

  • Detailed assessment proceedings

  • Drafting and responding to Points of Dispute and Replies

  • Paying and receiving party disputes

  • Legal Aid (CCMS) costs

  • Court of Protection costs

  • High-value multi-track bills

​

This provides exposure to complex, technical costs work across multiple specialist regimes, rather than volume drafting or low-level file handling. What you can expect:

​

  • Specialist practice dedicated solely to legal costs

  • Exposure to complex inter partes disputes

  • Work across Legal Aid and Court of Protection regimes

  • Flexible working: remote, hybrid or office-based

  • Secure electronic file systems

  • Direct mentoring from experienced costs lawyers

  • Early responsibility on substantive files

​

Current Opportunities

Senior Costs Lawyer (England & Wales – Remote, Hybrid or Office-Based)

 

We are seeking an experienced Costs Lawyer with strong expertise in:

  • Detailed assessment proceedings

  • Drafting and responding to Points of Dispute

  • Strategic costs advice and case management

  • Complex inter partes disputes

The role includes opportunities for advocacy at detailed assessment hearings and managing both paying and receiving party matters.

​

Costs Draftsman / Legal Costs Professional (Mid-Level) 

 

We are particularly keen to recruit experienced law costs draftsmen and legal costs professionals who can handle files with a degree of independence.

​

Typical experience includes:

​

  • Drafting Bills of Costs

  • Preparing Points of Dispute and Replies

  • Advising on costs strategy and recoverability

  • Experience in Legal Aid (CCMS) or Court of Protection costs 

 

Candidates may come from:

​

  • Paying party backgrounds

  • Receiving party work

  • Legal Aid or Court of Protection specialist regimes

 

This is a key growth area for the firm, strong candidates will quickly progress to higher-value and more complex work.

 

Trainee and Junior Opportunities

 

We welcome applications from:

  • Trainee costs draftsmen

  • Junior costs professionals

  • Law graduates and litigation paralegals

 

You will gain practical experience in:

  • Drafting Bills of Costs and schedules

  • Preparing Points of Dispute and Replies

  • Detailed assessment procedure under the CPR

  • Legal Aid CCMS billing and recovery

  • Court of Protection costs work

 

Legal costs is a highly technical and specialist discipline, and we provide structured mentoring alongside exposure to a wide range of matters.

Training and Development

SPH Costs supports ongoing professional development across:

​

  • Detailed assessment and advocacy

  • Drafting Points of Dispute and Replies

  • Costs budgeting and case strategy

  • Advisory work on proportionality and recoverability

  • ​

Our work across civil litigation, Legal Aid and Court of Protection costs allows team members to develop multi-regime expertise, which is highly valued within the profession.  

Career progression typically includes:

 

Trainee → Costs Draftsman → Senior Draftsman → Costs Lawyer

Working Arrangements

All work is conducted using secure electronic file systems, supporting:

  • Remote working

  • Hybrid arrangements

  • Office-based roles

This ensures flexibility while maintaining consistent supervision, collaboration and technical standards across the team.

What Is a Career in Legal Costs?

Legal costs is a specialist area of legal practice focused on the assessment, recovery and dispute of litigation costs under the Civil Procedure Rules (CPR).

Typical work includes:

  • Preparing Bills of Costs following litigation

  • Drafting Points of Dispute and Replies in detailed assessment proceedings

  • Advising solicitors on recoverability and proportionality

  • Preparing Legal Aid costs claims through CCMS

  • Drafting Court of Protection bills and assisting with SCCO assessment

It is a technical and analytical discipline with opportunities to develop expertise in advocacy, complex disputes and specialist costs regimes.

Who Typically Enters This Career?

Candidates entering the legal costs profession often come from:

​

  • Litigation paralegal roles

  • Civil litigation support roles

  • Law graduates seeking a specialist practice area

  • Experienced law costs draftsmen

  • Legal Aid costs professionals

​

We also welcome candidates looking to transition into a specialist legal career with clear progression.

Our Areas of Work

You will gain exposure across all SPH Costs practice areas:

​

How to Apply

To apply, please send a CV and covering email outlining your experience in legal costs work. All applications are handled confidentially.

Learn more about our specialist legal costs services.

bottom of page