Costs lawyer
Level 6 · DegreeLegal, finance and accounting 4 yr typical
About this apprenticeship
What it involves
The Costs Lawyer apprenticeship trains you in the specialist legal discipline of legal costs, covering the drafting, negotiation and litigation of costs arising from court proceedings. You will study the Civil Procedure Rules, detailed assessment and the settlement of costs disputes. This Level 6 apprenticeship leads to qualification and regulation as a Costs Lawyer by the Costs Lawyer Standards Board.
On the job
What you’ll learn
Civil Procedure Rules and the costs management regime in England and Wales
Drafting bills of costs and costs budgets for proceedings
Detailed assessment and the role of the Senior Courts Costs Office
Points of dispute, replies and negotiation in costs litigation
Funding arrangements such as conditional fee agreements and insurance
Legal research and case analysis for costs disputes
Professional conduct and ethics for a regulated Costs Lawyer
On the job
What you’ll do day to day
Draft bills of costs from time-recording and disbursement records
Prepare costs budgets and Precedent H documents for hearings
Negotiate settlement of costs with opposing parties
Prepare points of dispute and replies for detailed assessment
Attend detailed assessment hearings and represent clients
Research case law and procedural rules on costs
Advise solicitors and clients on recoverable costs
The deal
How this apprenticeship works
You earn a wage from day one. You are a paid employee, not a student. There are no tuition fees - the training is funded by your employer and the government.
About 20% is “off-the-job” training. Roughly a day a week is spent learning away from your normal duties - at a college, training provider, or online - working towards a recognised qualification.
It ends with an end-point assessment (EPA). Near the end, an independent assessor checks you can do the job to the national standard - through tests, a project, a portfolio or an interview. Pass it and you are fully qualified.
How to get there
What you need to start
Level 6 (Degree) - roughly Bachelor’s-degree level. Usually needs A-levels or a Level 3 qualification (employers set UCAS-point targets). You earn a full degree while you work - with no tuition fees to pay.
What’s next: Leads into professional roles, sometimes with a Level 7 (Master’s) apprenticeship after.
Entry requirements are set by each employer and can vary - always check the specific vacancy.
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What it’s really like
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