Jamie

Jamie Bedford has completed his first term on the ACLT’s Cost Lawyer Professional Qualification. Currently freelancing as a consultant for Elite Law Solicitors (ELS), Jamie has incorporated his own company (trading since Spring 2024) in readiness for qualifying as a Costs Lawyer in early 2026.

I inadvertently discovered my passion for law while studying a forensic and analytical science degree at Sheffield Hallam University. One of the first modules titled ‘legal environment’ I found particularly interesting and within a few lessons I was satisfied with my need to change courses and move towards a career in law. As part of my subsequent law degree, I was accepted onto the student exchange programme to spend the second year studying in another country. I chose Canada and spent that year studying at Carleton University in Ottawa, Ontario. It was such a fantastic experience to study in a new place and it gave me, amongst other things, a high confidence boost and exposure to another adversarial legal system.

Upon graduating I applied for numerous legal training contracts, with litigation and contentious issues such as employment, personal injury and commercial work peaking my interest, before securing a costs role at a local Sheffield firm, Check my Legal Fees.

My experience of costs law was limited as it only briefly appeared on the degree curriculum but once I joined the firm I could see that costs fitted my brief perfectly, simultaneously gaining experience in costs between the parties and also with solicitor and client costs.

Costs law keeps you on your toes, it is fast-paced and forever changing and allows you to gain experience in differing areas such as advocacy, drafting and advising. It doesn’t get more contentious than costs.

The Cost Lawyer Professional Qualification is imperative to progressing my business. Currently, I am instructed by ELS as a freelance consultant, however, once ACLT qualified I will also accept work through my own private company. Although I chose to fund the course privately, ELS have been a fantastic support since I started the course with members acting as the required ‘qualified person’ to consider, approve and sign off my ACLT professional skills and competencies.

The course itself is very flexible and it is clear that it has been designed for individuals currently in full-time work, although it does require a degree of planning to create a sustainable work and study-life balance. I have found the areas around professional ethics instantly translatable to my role. Knowing I have a clear and up-to-date understanding of the regulations around our area of work has placed my level of understanding leaps and bounds above where it was before I started.

Students are also provided with access to a new community. I recently attended a regional ACL meeting, the details of which were contained within the events section of the ACL forum, something I would not have had access to without being enrolled on this course. Meeting other people in the industry and being surrounded by like-minded professionals confirmed my desire to continue my costs career and will place me in a more favourable position when I begin operating my business full-time.

If you want to work in a fast-paced and interesting field with a variety of work I would recommend pursuing a costs career. Gaining qualifications through the ACLT course will only ensure you stand out from unqualified peers and receive the desired recognition.

Added April 2025