About the ACL

Discover the history, mission, and vision that make the Association of Costs Lawyers the leading professional community for Costs Lawyers in the UK.

Leading with Excellence in Legal Costs

Our Commitment to the Costs Lawyer Profession

As the representative body of Costs Lawyers, the Association of Costs Lawyers acts to support its members and to develop legal costs through education and support of the Costs Lawyer profession

The organisation was formed as the Association of Law Costs Draftsmen in 1977 with the object of promoting the status and interests of the profession of law costs draftsmen generally, and ensuring the maintenance of the highest professional standards.  The name of the association was changed in 2011 following the recognition of Costs Lawyers in the Legal Services Act 2007.

The association promotes and fosters an appreciation of the contribution made by Costs Lawyers within the legal profession. Further aims include the exchange of ideas and information with other legal bodies and the contribution to the development of the legal system. The ACL is recognised as an important contributor to law reform relating to costs law and procedures.

We ensure the high standards of Costs Lawyers through our independent regulator, the Costs Lawyer Standards Board (CLSB).

The ACL is the only professional body providing recognised training and education in costs law. The Costs Lawyer Professional Qualification (CLPQ) provides a structured training course covering all aspects of costs law and practice.

What Costs Lawyers do?

  • Draft Bills and Schedules of Costs
  • Draft Points of Dispute and Replies to claims for costs
  • Assist in the preparation of costs budgets and advise on costs budgets presented by an opposing party
  • Advise on retainers and fee arrangements between clients and their legal advisors
  • Advise on and prepare claims for costs from public funds (Legal Aid)
  • Advise on disputes between solicitors and their clients
  • Act as costs mediators or arbitrators in costs disputes

Costs Lawyers are regulated by the Costs Lawyer Standards Board under the Legal Services Act and are authorised to carry on the following reserved legal activities:

  • The exercise of a right of audience
  • The conduct of litigation
  • The administration of oaths

Provided that they are instructed to deal only with matters that relate to costs, they may conduct proceedings and represent clients in any court or tribunal, including any criminal court or courts martial, the Supreme Court or the Privy Council where:

  • the proceedings are at first instance; or
  • the proceedings include an appeal below the level of the Court of Appeal or Upper Tribunal, are on a first appeal (other than in the Court of Appeal) and the appeal itself relates to costs; or
  • the proceedings do not fall within either of the categories above, but your instructions are limited to dealing with the costs of the proceedings; or
  • the court or tribunal grants permission for you to conduct proceedings or to represent a client (or both)

Where proceedings relate to other matters, in addition to costs, the rights referred to above apply only to those parts of the proceedings (if any) that:

  • relate solely to costs; or
  • when they relate to other issues, solely those issues that are not in dispute.

The main areas in which Costs Lawyers may become involved are:

 

Costs payable between parties

At the conclusion of the claim, the unsuccessful litigant is usually ordered to pay the successful litigant’s costs and, if those costs cannot be agreed, a detailed bill of costs is prepared and served.

The paying party may serve a schedule of points of those items in the bill he wishes to dispute before the bill is lodged at court, to which the receiving party may reply.

If the Bill of Costs is for less than £75,000.00, a paper assessment is carried out by the Court (which either party may seek to review at an oral hearing if they do not accept the result).

For costs claims over £75,000.00 the disputes are argued before the Court at an oral hearing.

A Costs Lawyer can be involved in all the necessary procedural steps for either party.

 

Solicitor and client costs

These are costs payable by a client to their own solicitor.

Different rules apply to the costs where court proceedings have been commenced, known as contentious business, to those applicable to non-contentious matters such as conveyancing, probate and general advice.

A client who is unhappy with his solicitor’s bill has remedies available if he wishes to challenge it. If the bill relates to contentious business, either the client or the solicitor may apply to the court for the bill to be assessed.

A Costs Lawyer may be instructed to prepare a detailed breakdown for the assessment in support of the invoice rendered by the solicitor to his client, to advise on law and procedure and to argue in support of or against the bill.

 

Legal aid costs

Where a solicitor is representing a legally aided client, a detailed bill is usually required to be assessed either by the court or the Legal Aid Agency before payment can be made out of the legal aid fund to the solicitor.

Whilst such bills are usually assessed without any formal hearing, if an amount has been disallowed by the court and the solicitor wishes to object, an appointment can be obtained and the matter argued at a hearing. Where an amount is disallowed by the Legal Aid Agency, written submissions can be made.

Preparation of High Costs Case Plans in cases where the costs will exceed £25,000, some public family law cases where authority for use of leading counsel is granted, or other special cases including multi-party actions and Supreme Court cases.

When a legally aided client (who has a financial interest in their costs) disputes the level of costs being claimed by their solicitor, and those costs are being assessed by the court, an oral hearing for assessment is made for the client’s dispute to be heard.

In criminal cases, the objections to an amount disallowed are usually made, at first instance, in writing and are usually considered on paper appeal, often, a Costs Lawyer will be instructed to prepare the written submissions. The decision will provide details of the further appeal process, which usually involves an oral hearing at the Legal Aid Agency/National Taxing Team offices, at which a Costs Lawyer will be further instructed to attend.

The Council of the Association of Costs Lawyers comprises a number of elected members, who serve on Council for up to three years

The Council has responsibility for deciding on the strategy for the Association, agreeing business plans and budgets with the Executive, and ensuring that those plans are delivered.

The Code of Conduct for Council members

Find a Costs Lawyer

If you need a costs lawyer then search for free in our directory of qualified costs lawyers

Subscribe to the weekly ACL eBulletin

Stay informed with the latest profession news, opinion and features for only £120 a year

"*" indicates required fields

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Fill this form out to be notified when booking goes live.

Your Full Name
Hidden
This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.