Costs Lawyers &
Law Costs Draftsmen
Across England & Wales
We act for solicitors, insurers, local authorities, housing associations and Legal Aid firms nationwide to reduce inflated bills, maximise recovery and resolve complex costs disputes.
Need urgent Points of Dispute, a Bill of Costs or help with a Legal Aid CCMS or HCCP claim? Speak directly with a specialist today.
Legal Aid Costs Draftsman Services
SPH Costs provides specialist Legal Aid Costs Draftsman services and outsourced Legal Aid billing for solicitors and law firms throughout England & Wales. Our experienced Costs Lawyers and Legal Aid Costs Draftsmen can manage the billing process from instruction through to payment, helping firms reduce administrative work and recover the costs properly payable. We prepare and submit claims, deal with Legal Aid Agency (LAA) queries, handle assessment and reassessment issues, and provide management reports where required.
Our services include CCMS billing, High Cost Case Plans (HCCPs), Escape Fee claims, Court of Protection costs and specialist Legal Aid costs recovery. Whether you need assistance with an individual claim or an ongoing outsourced billing service, SPH Costs provides practical, experienced support tailored to your firm's requirements.
CCMS Billing Specialists - Civil Costs
CCMS billing is a key part of Legal Aid costs recovery, but preparing and progressing claims through the Client and Cost Management System can place a significant administrative burden on solicitors. SPH Costs assists firms with preparing and submitting civil Legal Aid claims, dealing with rejected or returned claims, responding to Legal Aid Agency queries and resolving assessment or payment issues. We also work with Costsmaster and electronic billing workflows where appropriate.
Whether instructed on an individual claim or as part of an ongoing outsourced Legal Aid billing arrangement, our team helps firms progress claims accurately and recover the costs properly payable. For further details, see our CCMS Billing & Legal Aid Costs Management service.
We do not undertake Criminal Costs work.
Specialist Legal Aid Costs Draftsmen & Costs Lawyers
Our Legal Aid team supports solicitors undertaking publicly funded work across England & Wales.
We regularly assist firms acting in:
• Housing Law
• Family Law
• Court of Protection
• Community Care
• Judicial Review
• Public Law
• Mental Health
• Civil Litigation
From sole practitioners through to large national Legal Aid providers, we provide specialist support tailored to each firm's requirements.
Outsourced Legal Aid Costs Services
SPH Costs provides an ongoing outsourced Legal Aid billing service for solicitors who want experienced specialists to manage their costs recovery without maintaining a full in-house billing department. We can take responsibility for the billing process from instruction through to payment. This includes preparing and submitting claims, progressing outstanding matters, responding to Legal Aid Agency (LAA) queries, dealing with assessment and reassessment issues, and following up claims through to payment. Where required, we can also provide management reports to help firms monitor their outstanding claims and costs recovery.
We work as an extension of the solicitor's practice, whether managing a regular flow of Legal Aid files or assisting with individual, complex matters. Our experience covers CCMS billing, Bills of Costs, High Cost Case Plans, Escape Fee claims and other civil Legal Aid costs work. The aim is straightforward: to reduce the billing burden on fee earners, maintain progress on claims and support the recovery of costs properly payable.
Costsmaster & Electronic Billing
SPH Costs prepares electronic Legal Aid Bills using Costsmaster software. Where appropriate, we work with Costsmaster data and XML exports to streamline preparation, reduce unnecessary manual input and improve the efficiency of the billing process. Secure electronic workflows allow us to support solicitors throughout England & Wales without the need for physical files.
High Costs Case Plans (HCCPs)
High Cost Case Plans (HCCPs) require careful preparation and ongoing review to ensure that proposed work and costs are properly addressed as complex publicly funded cases develop. SPH Costs assists solicitors with preparing new HCCPs, revising existing plans, supporting assumptions and responding to Legal Aid Agency queries. We also advise on amendments arising from changes in case progression, expert evidence and anticipated costs.
Our specialist team helps firms manage HCCP requirements alongside the wider Legal Aid costs recovery process.
For more information, visit our High Cost Case Plans (HCCPs) service page.
Escape Fee Claims
Escape Fee claims can be complex, particularly where the Legal Aid Agency questions eligibility, supporting evidence or the costs claimed. SPH Costs assists solicitors with assessing eligibility, preparing Escape Fee claims, reviewing supporting evidence and responding to rejected or reduced claims. Where appropriate, we also assist with assessment disputes and reassessments.
Our aim is to help firms present properly supported claims and recover the costs to which they are entitled, while reducing avoidable correspondence and delays. For guidance on disputed claims, read our article: Escape Fee Claim Rejected – What Happens Next?
Legal Aid Bills of Costs
SPH Costs prepares Legal Aid Bills of Costs for solicitors undertaking publicly funded civil work, including Licensed Work, Court of Protection matters and inter partes costs arising from legally aided proceedings. Our experienced Costs Draftsmen and Costs Lawyers prepare Bills with the relevant funding arrangements, supporting records and assessment requirements in mind. We also assist with queries, reductions and reassessments where required.
Whether preparing a Bill for an individual matter or managing a regular flow of Legal Aid claims, our aim is to present costs accurately, minimise avoidable assessment issues and support recovery of the amounts properly payable.
Responding to Legal Aid Agency Queries
Legal Aid costs recovery does not always end when a claim is submitted. The Legal Aid Agency may request clarification, return a claim for amendment, reduce assessed costs or raise questions about supporting evidence. SPH Costs assists solicitors with resolving these issues, including rejected CCMS claims, assessment reductions, Prior Authority queries and reassessments where appropriate.
For firms using our ongoing outsourced Legal Aid billing service, this support forms part of our wider role in progressing claims through to payment. Our team can handle the necessary follow-up and correspondence, helping fee earners avoid unnecessary administrative work while ensuring outstanding costs matters continue to progress.
Why Instruct SPH Costing Services?
SPH Costs combines experienced Legal Aid Costs Draftsmen with regulated Costs Lawyers, providing solicitors with specialist expertise across the Legal Aid costs recovery process. We offer more than individual Bills of Costs or CCMS claims. Firms can instruct us to manage their ongoing Legal Aid billing, including claim preparation, submission, Legal Aid Agency queries, reassessments and follow-up through to payment. Management reporting is also available where required.
Where appropriate and within their rights of practice, our Costs Lawyers can conduct costs proceedings on behalf of instructing solicitors, providing continuity when costs disputes require specialist representation. We work with sole practitioners, regional firms and national Legal Aid providers throughout England
Frequently asked Questions
Can you prepare CCMS Bills?
Yes. We regularly prepare CCMS claims for solicitors undertaking publicly funded civil work and can assist with both routine and complex claims.
Can you deal with rejected CCMS claims?
Yes. We frequently assist firms where claims have been rejected, returned or queried by the Legal Aid Agency.
Can you deal with High Costs Case Plans (HCCPs)
Yes. We draft new HCCPs, revise existing plans and advise on amendments as cases develop.
Can you prepare Escape Fee claims?
Yes. We advise on eligibility, prepare claims, assist with supporting evidence and deal with reassessment where required.
Do you only work for large firms?
No. We act for sole practitioners, specialist Legal Aid firms, regional practices and national organisations throughout England & Wales.
Can SPH Costs manage all of our firm's Legal Aid billing?
Yes. SPH Costs provides an ongoing outsourced Legal Aid billing service for solicitors and law firms. We can manage claims from instruction through to payment, including preparation, submission, Legal Aid Agency queries, reassessments and follow-up of outstanding claims. Management reports can also be provided where required. Firms can outsource their regular Legal Aid billing or instruct us on individual matters.
Related Legal Aid Services
For further guidance, you may also find these resources helpful:
• Legal Aid Costs Draftsman
• 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
Ready to Send Us a Legal Aid File?
Whether you need help with a single Legal Aid claim or are considering outsourcing your firm's ongoing Legal Aid billing, contact SPH Costs to discuss your requirements. Our team can explain how we can assist with claim preparation, submission, Legal Aid Agency queries and the progression of outstanding claims through to payment.
If you're ready to instruct us on a particular matter, you can send your papers securely using our file upload facility. We'll advise you of any additional documents required.
Telephone: 01772 435550
Email: egb@sphcosts.com
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