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Specialist Legal Aid Costs Draftsman

Finding the right Legal Aid Costs Draftsman is about more than preparing a bill. Modern Legal Aid costs recovery requires specialist knowledge of the Legal Aid Agency, CCMS, High Cost Case Plans, CostsMaster workflows and the practical issues that arise throughout the costs recovery process. SPH Costs provides specialist Legal Aid Costs Draftsman services for solicitors and law firms throughout England & Wales, supporting firms from initial claim preparation through to post-assessment queries and appeals where appropriate.

 

What Does a Legal Aid Costs Draftsman Do?

A specialist Legal Aid Costs Draftsman assists firms with every stage of Legal Aid costs recovery, including:

• CCMS billing

• CLAIM1 and CLAIM1A preparation

• High Cost Case Plans (HCCPs)

• Escape Fee claims

• Prior Authority issues

• Bills of Costs

• Court of Protection costs

• Post-submission LAA queries

• Reassessments and amendments

By combining technical Legal Aid knowledge with practical experience of the assessment process, specialist drafting can reduce delays, minimise rejected claims and improve the efficiency of costs recovery.

 

Modern Legal Aid Costs Workflows

Today's Legal Aid costs drafting is almost entirely electronic. SPH Costs routinely supports firms using secure digital workflows, enabling instructions to be managed efficiently regardless of location. Our systems are designed to integrate with the way modern law firms work, allowing electronic files and supporting documentation to be handled securely throughout the life of the instruction.

 

CostsMaster & XML Workflows

Many firms prepare their Legal Aid files using specialist costs software. SPH Costs regularly works with data generated from CostsMaster and can utilise XML exports where appropriate to streamline claim preparation and reduce unnecessary manual input. Working electronically allows information to be transferred accurately while maintaining the integrity of the underlying costs data.

 

Secure Electronic File Handling

We understand the importance of confidentiality when dealing with publicly funded matters. Our Legal Aid clients can instruct us remotely using secure electronic file transfer, allowing files to be reviewed and progressed efficiently without the need for physical delivery. This enables us to support firms across England & Wales whilst maintaining appropriate standards of data security and confidentiality.

 

Beyond Preparing the Bill

Preparing a claim is often only the beginning. SPH Costs also assists firms with:

• responding to Legal Aid Agency queries;

• correcting rejected CCMS claims;

• claim amendments;

• reassessments;

• escape fee issues;

• High Cost Case Plan amendments; and

• practical guidance on common Legal Aid costs problems. Our objective is to support firms throughout the Legal Aid costs recovery process rather than simply preparing individual claims.

 

Why Firms Choose SPH Costs

Solicitors instruct SPH Costs because we provide:

• specialist Legal Aid costs expertise;

• extensive experience of CCMS billing;

• High Cost Case Plan support;

• CostsMaster-compatible workflows;

• XML-enabled electronic working where appropriate;

• secure electronic file handling;

• nationwide remote support; and

• practical assistance with post-submission Legal Aid Agency queries.

 

Related Resources

If you are experiencing difficulties with CCMS claims, prior authority, escape fee claims, delayed payments or other Legal Aid costs issues, visit our Common Costs Problems resource centre. 

 

You may also find the following guides helpful:

• Legal Aid Costs

• High Cost Case Plans (HCCPs)

• Common Costs Problems

• CCMS Claim Rejected – What Happens Next?

• Prior Authority Not Obtained – Can Fees Still Be Recovered?

 

Contact SPH Costs

If your firm requires a specialist Legal Aid Costs Draftsman for CCMS billing, High Cost Case Plans, Bills of Costs or wider Legal Aid costs recovery, contact SPH Costs to discuss your requirements.