Figures obtained by ACL as part of its ‘Cost of Costs Lawyers’ project
Being a Costs Lawyer is worth an extra £10,000 in salary compared to costs draftspersons or other unqualified costs professionals, figures collated by the ACL have shown.
They form part of the Association’s ongoing ‘Cost of Costs Lawyers’ project, which aims to highlight the value of qualification to professionals and employers.
Data provided mainly by recruiters Clayton Legal and Miller Grace showed that, between 2022 and 2025, the average salary for Costs Lawyers across all experience levels and locations was just over £48,000.
The highest paid Costs Lawyer role was £110,000 for a head of costs position in London this year, and £82,000 for a similar position in the North-West in 2023. Over 40% of all salaries for Costs Lawyer roles in the period were £50,000 or over, and 17% of all salaries were £60,000 or over. This year also saw a senior Costs Lawyer hired in London on a salary of £83,000.
Hardly any Costs Lawyers were paid less than £30,000, unlike costs draftspersons or other unqualified costs professionals above trainee level, for whom the average salary was £37,500 across all locations, with 44% of these roles salaried at £40,000 or over.
Only 2.7% of all unqualified roles above trainee level had salaries of £50,000 or over, and the highest pay recorded for this group was £52,000 for a costs draftsperson position in the North-West in 2023.
There was a striking differential among trainees too, with the average salary for trainee Costs Lawyers in the period at £33,800, compared to £25,850 for trainee draftspersons/costs paralegals.
The data did not detail the levels of experience held for each role.
Council member Amy Dunkley, who has been leading on the project, said: “Aside from the intrinsic value in having a professional qualification, which has recently been brought further into the spotlight by the Mazur judgment, these figures confirm the value that employers place on it too, with higher paid and ostensibly more senior roles being filled by Costs Lawyers.
“Unlike other unqualified costs professionals, a qualified Costs Lawyer is regulated under the Legal Services Act 2007 and must comply with the professional standards and rules set by their regulator, the CLSB. We obviously believe that Costs Lawyers deserve recognition through the salaries they are paid, but we also plan to use this information and other outputs from the Cost of Costs Lawyers project to campaign for formal acknowledgment that Costs Lawyers can be grade A fee-earners for the purposes of the guideline hourly rates.”
Matt Walwyn, regional manager – Midlands & South at Clayton Legal, commented: “I think that becoming a Costs Lawyer offers greater professional benefits than remaining a costs draftsman, both in day-to-day work and overall career progression.
“Costs Lawyers have rights of audience, the ability to conduct costs litigation and can offer legal advice directly to clients—giving them more autonomy and a broader scope of work compared to draftsmen, who are typically limited to preparing bills and negotiations.
“This increased responsibility often translates into higher earning potential, as shown by the data, stronger job security, and enhanced professional recognition within the legal field.
“Additionally, the qualification as a Costs Lawyer demonstrates a higher level of expertise and commitment, which can open doors to more senior roles and varied opportunities in both private practice and in-house positions.”
Jamie Miller, a director at Miller Grace, added: “As we’ve seen over the past few months, professional qualifications play a crucial role within the legal industry. Our data shows that clients are more likely to offer higher salaries to candidates who have completed the Costs Lawyer qualification or to qualified solicitors who specialise in costs.”
Ms Dunkley said the salary data should also encourage would-be lawyers at the beginning of their careers to commit to costs, which is why the ACL has introduced the ‘costs paralegal’ category of membership.
It is open to those who are supervised by a Costs Lawyer and likely to undertake the Costs Lawyer Professional Qualification within the next few years. Costs Paralegals enjoy some membership benefits – attending special interest groups and regional meetings, the e-bulletin, and discounts to events and some other products and services.