Leigh White, qualified Costs Lawyer at Irwin Mitchell

Leigh emphasises how she became involved in costs law and how her career has developed since.

My name is Leigh and I qualified as a Costs Lawyer, in 2006, gaining higher rights of audience in 2008. 

I did a Law Degree at Leeds University but when I graduated, I decided I didn’t want to be a Solicitor, but wasn’t sure what I did want to be. In 2003 I moved to Sheffield and interviewed for a position as a Costs Draftsman at Irwin Mitchell. 

I was not sure what that position really was, but after I got the job, I quickly grew to love the area of Costs Law. I am now an Associate Costs Manager in the Costs Management Team. Firm. I manage 4 Costs Teams comprising of over 20 people. Together with them, I am responsible for the cost’s cases of our Newcastle, Leeds and London medical negligence, serious injury and workplace injury teams. We progress our claims through the billing and negotiating phases and then, where settlement is not possible, we take cases to Detailed Assessment hearings too.

I feel very grateful that I fell into this niche area of law 20 years ago and would highly recommend the ACL professional course to others. 

Added April 2023