Costs Draftsman Interview Questions UK: 8 Real Questions and What Interviewers Want

Before your Costs Draftsman interview, it helps to see the questions from the interviewer's side. We have picked eight from our set of 12 and added the reason each one gets asked.

Eight Costs Draftsman interview questions, and what the interviewer is thinking

1. Can you explain the difference between the standard basis and the indemnity basis of assessment, and how proportionality applies?

Why they ask: This is the foundation of all costs assessment work.

2. Talk me through the detailed assessment process and the key time limits.

Why they ask: They want to know you can run a bill through the procedure without missing deadlines.

3. Why do you want to work as a costs draftsman, and what makes someone good at it?

Why they ask: They want to understand your commitment to a specialist and technical career.

4. What is costs budgeting, and how does it affect the way you prepare a bill?

Why they ask: Budgets limit recoverable costs and affect almost every multi-track bill.

5. What do you understand about the fixed recoverable costs changes introduced in October 2023, and how do they affect your work?

Why they ask: Recent reform knowledge is essential to current practice.

6. You receive points of dispute that challenge your hourly rates and say time spent on documents was excessive. How do you respond?

Why they ask: They are testing technical analysis and negotiation strategy.

7. Tell me about a time you negotiated a costs settlement that achieved a good result for your client.

Why they ask: They want evidence that you can negotiate as well as draft.

8. When preparing a bill, you find that the fee earner's time recording is incomplete and several entries are vague. What do you do?

Why they ask: Bills depend on credible time records, and gaps create real risk.

A sample answer to question 1

Can you explain the difference between the standard basis and the indemnity basis of assessment, and how proportionality applies?

Under CPR 44.3, on the standard basis the court allows only costs that are proportionate to the matters in issue and resolves any doubt about reasonableness in favour of the paying party. Costs must also be reasonably incurred and reasonable in amount, and where they are disproportionate, they will be allowed only if they were necessary. Proportionality is judged by the factors in 44.3(5): the sums in issue, the value of any non-monetary relief, the complexity, any additional work generated by the paying party's conduct, and wider factors such as reputation or public importance. On the indemnity basis, any doubt is resolved in favour of the receiving party, and proportionality is not a requirement, though costs must still be reasonable. Indemnity costs are usually awarded where conduct is out of the norm, as in Excelsior Commercial v Salisbury Hammer Aspden, or as a consequence of a Part 36 offer under 36.17. In practice, I always check the order for the basis awarded.

Common mistake to avoid: Confusing necessity with reasonableness; forgetting proportionality on the standard basis

Want the rest?

Full model answers, key points and common mistakes for all 12 questions are on the Costs Draftsman interview questions page. The first five are free, no sign-up needed.