The average salary for costs lawyers was just above £48,000 between 2022 and 2025, compared to £37,500 for costs draftspersons, data from recruiters Clayton Legal and Miller Grace showed.
The highest paid was £110,000 for head of costs at a London firm, and £82,000 for a similar position in the north-west. More than 40% of costs lawyers earned £50,000 or more.
In contrast, only 2.7% of costs draftsperson roles earned £50,000 or more, and the highest pay recorded was £52,000 for a position in the north-west.
Matt Walwyn, regional manager at Clayton Legal, said ‘costs lawyers have rights of audience, the ability to conduct costs litigation and can offer legal advice directly to clients’, whereas costs draftspersons ‘are typically limited to preparing bills and negotiations’.
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