Welcome from Carly Schofield, Partner in Costs
I’m very happy to share an exciting opportunity to join our costs training programme. We’re a top 100 law firm with ambitious growth plans, and our highly talented costs team plays a key role in that success. A career in costs is sometimes overlooked by graduates, but it shouldn’t be. It’s a fantastic career path. No two days are the same and the work is incredibly rewarding. You’ll play a vital role in supporting people after life-changing injuries.
You will gain hands-on experience from day one, supported by colleagues with a wealth of experience. The proudest part of my role is seeing graduates join us, learn, develop and flourish into outstanding professionals with bright careers ahead of them. If your excited by a career in costs we’d love to hear from you.
What is the role of a Costs Litigation Assistant?
A Costs Litigation Assistant works with the costs team and solicitors to manage the financial side of legal cases. This includes preparing, checking and negotiating costs, bills and schedules (which are lists of expenses). They also help make sure the firm recovers the money it’s owed. Carly explains more in this video.
From Business Management Graduate to Trainee Costs Draftsperson
Jake shares his journey from studying Business Management at university to starting his career at Express Solicitors. He explains what working in costs law involves, how the training and support helped him transition into a specialist area, and the progression he has made since joining the firm.
Hear from our graduates!
Luke, Sadikur and Lucy are graduates who have successfully progressed from our costs training programme. Here is what they have to say…
Luke Profitt
Luke joined us in 2024 after completing a degree in Accounting and Finance at Liverpool John Moores University.
“The standout for me has definitely been the training. You’re not just reading from a textbook or waiting ages to work on real cases. It’s practical and hands-on from the start, with experienced colleagues always there to guide you and offer advice whenever you need it.”
Sadikur Rehman
Sadikur joined us in 2024 after completing a degree in Business Management at Manchester Metropolitan University.
“The people really make it special. I started with other graduates on the same day and going through the programme together, supporting and pushing each other, has been a lot of fun. It’s a great environment to come into every day.”
Lucy Shaw
Lucy joined us in 2023 after completing a degree in Law at Manchester Metropolitan University.
“A role in costs appealed to me as I have an eye for detail. When working on a claim the details need to be analysed with diligence. The training provided to me has been excellent and the culture in the department is extremely supportive.”
Future progression
Once you have completed the costs training programme and gained experience in costs litigation, you may wonder what’s next. There are three exciting career progression routes you can take.
- Trainee Costs Draftsperson: A tailored in-house training programme rotating throughout the three different costs roles (file handling, technical bill drafting and budgeting)
- Trainee ACL lawyer, which is a formal qualification from the Association of Cost Lawyers for those who haven’t completed a law degree.
- Solicitors Training Contract to qualify as a Solicitor for those who have completed a law degree.
From Finance Graduate to Costs Lawyer
Sam Ryan joined Express Solicitors in 2023 as a Costs Litigation Assistant, having completed a Finance degree at the University of Durham. He has now completed his Association of Costs Lawyers Training (ACLT) and is a qualified costs lawyer.
How to apply
If you’re a recent graduate in law, finance, economics or a related subject and looking for a role that blends legal reasoning with financial analysis, our costs training programme could be the perfect fit. There are multiple cohorts throughout the year so keep an eye on our vacancy page or get in touch.
Meet our Emerging Talent Team
If you would like to get in touch about this fantastic opportunity to work in a great team, please do get in touch with us as we would love to hear from you! The interview process will a short video interview in the first instance, this will cover your motivation and understanding of the role. If you are successful you will then have an MS Teams interview with Carly Schofield.
Luiza Da Costa – Emerging Talent Manager
Luiza manages the overall recruitment process for our various graduates and ensures we offer all of our candidates the best possible experience.
Oliver Doak – Emerging Talent Specialist
Oliver represents Express Solicitors at a variety of events and leads the recruitment of our Graduate Scheme.
Harrison Hunt – Emerging Talent & HR Administrator
Harrison works alongside Luiza and Oliver to represent Express Solicitors at various events and helps review prospective candidates.