Legal Aid Costs Draftsman

A Legal Aid Costs Draftsman is a specialist who assists solicitors with preparing, assessing and recovering costs in publicly funded legal matters. Their work can include drafting Bills of Costs, preparing CCMS claims, advising on High Cost Case Plans (HCCPs), dealing with Escape Fee claims and responding to Legal Aid Agency (LAA) queries.

For solicitors, understanding when to instruct a specialist Legal Aid Costs Draftsman can help reduce avoidable billing problems, improve the accuracy of claims and support the recovery of costs properly payable.

At SPH Costs, our experienced Legal Aid Costs Draftsmen and regulated Costs Lawyers support firms throughout England & Wales, providing practical advice from initial claim preparation through to assessment, payment and, where necessary, reassessment or appeal.​

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If your firm requires specialist assistance with Legal Aid costs drafting, CCMS billing or ongoing outsourced costs recovery, visit our Legal Aid Costs Draftsman Services page to find out how SPH Costs can help. Please note: We do not undertake Criminal Costs work.​

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What Does a Legal Aid Costs Draftsman Do?

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A specialist Legal Aid Costs Draftsman assists solicitors with every stage of Legal Aid costs recovery.

Typical work includes:

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• Preparing CCMS claims

• Drafting Bills of Costs

• Preparing High Cost Case Plans

• Escape Fee claims

• Court of Protection Bills

• Prior Authority issues

• Responding to Legal Aid Agency queries

• Reassessment requests

• Costs recovery strategy

 

The role of a Legal Aid Costs Draftsman extends beyond preparing Bills of Costs. It involves understanding the applicable Legal Aid remuneration rules, identifying recoverable work, ensuring claims are properly supported by evidence and addressing issues raised during assessment. For solicitors undertaking publicly funded work, specialist costs support can help reduce avoidable errors, minimise administrative delays and ensure that claims are prepared with lawful recovery in mind.

 

Why Use a Specialist Legal Aid Costs Draftsman?

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Legal Aid costs recovery has become increasingly technical.  Claims are routinely scrutinised by the Legal Aid Agency, and relatively small errors can result in:

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• Rejected CCMS claims

• Delayed payment

• Requests for clarification

• Assessment reductions

• Reassessment proceedings

• Reduced cash flow

 

Instructing a specialist Legal Aid Costs Draftsman can help solicitors identify potential billing problems before submission, prepare appropriate supporting evidence and respond effectively to Legal Aid Agency queries. Specialist assistance can be particularly valuable where claims involve complex funding arrangements, disputed costs or repeated assessment difficulties.

 

CCMS Billing

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The Client and Cost Management System (CCMS) is used for managing civil Legal Aid funding and claims. Preparing and submitting claims requires an understanding of the applicable Legal Aid rules, supporting documentation and common reasons why claims are returned or queried. A specialist Legal Aid Costs Draftsman can assist with preparing claims, reviewing supporting evidence, correcting errors and responding to Legal Aid Agency queries. For specialist claim preparation, ongoing outsourced billing and assistance with LAA queries, see our CCMS Billing & Legal Aid Costs Management service. 

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High Cost Case Plans (HCCPs)

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High Cost Case Plans (HCCPs) are used to agree funding arrangements for certain complex Legal Aid cases. They require careful consideration of anticipated work, case progression, Counsel's fees, expert evidence and the likely costs of the proceedings. A specialist Legal Aid Costs Draftsman can assist with preparing and revising Case Plans, supporting the proposed costs and responding to Legal Aid Agency queries as a case develops. For specialist HCCP preparation, revisions and ongoing management, see our High Cost Case Plans (HCCPs) service.

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Escape Fee Claims

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Escape Fee claims arise where eligible Legal Aid work exceeds the applicable escape threshold, allowing remuneration to be assessed under the relevant rules rather than the standard fixed fee. Preparing an Escape Fee claim requires careful consideration of eligibility, accurate time recording and appropriate supporting evidence. A specialist Legal Aid Costs Draftsman can assist solicitors with preparing claims, addressing Legal Aid Agency queries and challenging assessment reductions where there are proper grounds to do so.  For further guidance, see our Escape Fee Claim Rejected – What Happens Next? article.

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CostsMaster & Electronic Working

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CostsMaster is specialist software used in the preparation of electronic Bills of Costs. It helps costs professionals organise time entries, apply appropriate rates and prepare detailed bills for assessment. For Legal Aid solicitors, electronic billing systems can help reduce manual administration and support accurate claim preparation. SPH Costs uses CostsMaster and secure electronic working arrangements to assist solicitors throughout England and Wales, allowing files and costs instructions to be managed remotely.

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Costs Lawyer or Legal Aid Costs Draftsman?

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A Legal Aid Costs Draftsman specialises in preparing and managing legal costs claims, including Bills of Costs, CCMS billing and matters arising during assessment. A regulated Costs Lawyer has additional professional qualifications and rights of practice. Where appropriate and within their authorisation, a Costs Lawyer can conduct costs litigation and represent clients in costs proceedings. SPH Costs combines experienced Legal Aid Costs Draftsmen with regulated Costs Lawyers. This allows instructing solicitors to access specialist drafting expertise alongside regulated costs litigation services where required.

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Why Solicitors Choose SPH Costs

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Solicitors throughout England & Wales instruct SPH Costs because we provide:

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• Specialist Legal Aid Costs Draftsmen

• Regulated Costs Lawyers

• Extensive CCMS experience

• High Cost Case Plan expertise

• Escape Fee specialists

• Court of Protection expertise

• CostsMaster workflows

• Secure electronic working

• Nationwide support

• Practical Legal Aid Agency experience

 

SPH Costs supports solicitors requiring assistance with individual Legal Aid costs matters or ongoing outsourced costs recovery. Once instructed, our team can manage and progress the costs work through the relevant stages, including dealing with Legal Aid Agency queries and payment issues. Management reports can also be provided where required. For details of our services and how to instruct us, visit our Legal Aid Costs Draftsman Services page.

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Frequently Asked Questions

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Can a Legal Aid Costs Draftsman prepare CCMS Bills?

Yes. Specialist Legal Aid Costs Draftsmen regularly prepare and manage CCMS claims for solicitors undertaking publicly funded work.

Can a Legal Aid Costs Draftsman prepare High Cost Case Plans?

Yes. Preparing and revising High Cost Case Plans forms a significant part of modern Legal Aid costs drafting.

Can a Legal Aid Costs Draftsman deal with rejected claims?

Yes. Many firms instruct specialist Costs Draftsmen after the Legal Aid Agency rejects or queries a claim.

Can a Legal Aid Costs Draftsman prepare Escape Fee claims?

Yes. We regularly advise on eligibility, preparation, supporting evidence and reassessment.

Do you prepare Court of Protection Bills?

Yes. SPH Costs has extensive experience preparing Court of Protection Bills and advising on SCCO assessments.

Do you act for firms throughout England & Wales?

Yes. We support solicitors nationwide using secure electronic working and modern digital workflows.

 

Related Legal Aid Services

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You may also find the following resources helpful:

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• Legal Aid Costs Draftsman Services

• High Cost Case Plans (HCCPs)
• CCMS Claim Rejected – What Happens Next?
• Escape Fee Claim Rejected – What Happens Next?
• Prior Authority Not Obtained – Can Fees Still Be Recovered?
• Common Costs Problems

 

Contact SPH Costs

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If your firm requires specialist Legal Aid costs assistance, SPH Costs can help with individual matters or ongoing outsourced costs recovery. Our experienced Legal Aid Costs Draftsmen and regulated Costs Lawyers support solicitors throughout England and Wales.

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Telephone: 01772 435550
Email: egb@sphcosts.com

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