We hear from Younes Istakar, the second recipient of an ACL scholarship
Younes Istakar is the second recipient of a fully funded scholarship from the ACL to qualify as a Costs Lawyer.
One scholarship is available for each six-monthly cohort of students starting the Costs Lawyer Professional Qualification.
The course currently costs £6,720 to complete and was launched in 2023 to disrupt the traditional learning route previously on offer for those seeking a career in costs and to break the boundaries that discourage some from pursuing their passion in law.
Here we ask Younes some questions about what led him to this point.
Can you summarise your career to date and why you are looking to become a Costs Lawyer?
It’s now a cliché to say I accidentally fell into the costs profession.
When I finished college in summer 2013, I didn’t really know what to do, except for wanting to get into the music industry as a producer. I started looking for admin jobs and apprenticeships but it was a difficult period – I ended up receiving countless rejections in a short space of time.
I was young, hungry and ambitious but wasn’t given a chance. I then enrolled onto a community project aimed at giving young people employability skills, work experience in various settings and careers advice. It helped me understand that personal development is crucial in both work and life, and we just need an opportunity to start somewhere.
In 2014, I was offered a role at local high street law firm. I started out as a legal assistant undertaking admin duties and then progressed as a caseworker in family, housing and immigration, doing funding work. This experience sparked an interest in law, which encouraged me to look at qualifying as a solicitor, something I never thought I’d pursue. As I got more involved, I was naturally exposed to costs elements of legal matters, which I found interesting.
I began to focus on legal aid and inter partes matters, preparing detailed bills and schedules, and became more invested. This led me to form a costs department within the firm. In 2016, I began studying law at City University in London and continued working part-time. Halfway through my course, I gave up the idea of becoming a solicitor because I wanted to a career in costs.
I went on to work for another London law firm, where I matured in my role and learned more about Costs Lawyers after working closely with one, who motivated me and steered me towards the qualification. Once I obtained my law degree, I knew the Costs Lawyer qualification would be valuable too.
But the journey wasn’t easy. I faced challenges, such as limited access to funding and a lack of support from firms unwilling to invest in the qualification for staff.
I expanded my experience in other areas of law – such as personal injury, medical law, media law and employment – dealing with complex, high-value claims. I was more technical, analytical and understood the mechanics of legal costs much better.
I’ve also worked both in-house and external doing majority claimant work. In my current role, I work on variety of cases and mainly focus on bill preparation and cradle-to-grave work.
I wanted to qualify because of my passion for costs and professional development. I was surprised to learn that many non-qualified costs people have no intentions of pursuing the qualification, creating a rift in the profession.
This inspired me to qualify, represent and contribute to a niche area of law that is constantly developing.
Why did you apply for the scholarship and what will it do for you?
I applied not only because of my genuine and long-standing passion for legal costs, but also to challenge the social and economic barriers I have faced.
When the ACL announced the scholarships, it gave me a sense of hope – they are a great opportunity to rise above such barriers and promote inclusion within the profession. I wanted to show that the path to qualification is not far-fetched but instead within reach, regardless of background, financial position or personal circumstance.
There is not enough representation of ethnic backgrounds in our profession, which can make it difficult for others to break through. I’ve been vocal about diversity from early on in my career.
The scholarship has alleviated the financial burden, which was one of the disadvantages, as my path to qualification would otherwise have been halted. I believe the scholarships will increase representation and diversity within our profession.
I am excited by the future of costs – the scholarship has given me a chance to make a difference and raise the visibility of Costs Lawyers.
What do you think a career in costs offers?
It is a rewarding career and what sets it apart is the variety of work, potential for other roles, flexibility and a great work/life balance. Costs Lawyers are versatile and can practice in multiple areas, work in less hostile environments than solicitors and barristers, and have more control over their work/time. There are opportunities to work in-house or even as a consultant.
Costs Lawyers also have a unique skill set, which is valuable, transferrable and can open up opportunities beyond traditional practice, such as an independent costs assessor to the Legal Aid Agency and mediation roles. Becoming a judge – which the ACL and Costs Lawyer Standards Board are currently working on – would be exciting.
Seeing a number of experienced legal professionals transfer into legal costs speaks volumes about the profession’s appeal.
Costs Lawyers are an invaluable asset and play a big part in the justice system. Our work does not go unnoticed. The profession is improving and I am sure there will be plenty of opportunities in the future.
How do you spend your time outside work
I keep myself entertained by being involved in music production/engineering – it’s something I enjoy and have been doing for a while as it boosts my creativity.
I am an avid football fan, supporting West Ham and I willingly watch their games every weekends.
For about two years, I’ve had a keen interest in cooking, learning and trying variety of cuisines which I find therapeutic. I also travel a lot to get away from the city, particularly to sunny destinations where I get an opportunity to relax and soak up the sun.