Experienced Hires
At Switalskis, we’re dedicated to expanding our team by welcoming seasoned professionals who are eager to contribute their expertise in a collaborative setting. We understand the invaluable role experienced individuals play in enriching our service delivery, enhancing our client satisfaction, and fostering a culture of continuous learning and improvement within our firm.
Our doors are open to both solicitors and non-solicitors who are keen on advancing their careers while making a significant impact in the legal sector. By joining Switalskis, you’ll step into a community that values your experience, supports your professional growth, and provides an environment for you to excel in your chosen field.
Explore the various career opportunities available for experienced hires and take the next step in your legal career with Switalskis.
Joining Switalskis as a solicitor means becoming part of a team dedicated to upholding justice, solving legal issues and providing top-tier legal services. We offer roles across various legal disciplines where your experience and knowledge will be instrumental in delivering solutions to our clients.
Our non-solicitor roles play a crucial part in making sure the firm operates smoothly. From legal secretaries, paralegals and administrative staff to marketing and IT professionals, your skills will support our legal teams and deliver exceptional service to our clients.
ABOUT US
Switalskis is an award-winning law firm listed in The Sunday Times Best Places to Work 2024.
Established in 1993 by Stephen Switalski, we began with a focus on child care law and criminal law from a single office in Wakefield. Since then we’ve expanded to 11 locations employing approximately 400 people who provide a wide array of specialist legal services.
A career at Switalskis means being part of a firm that cares and is here for you. We’re dynamic and progressive, and we never stand still. Last year we were crowned Large Firm of the Year at The Yorkshire Legal Awards and named in the top 50 fastest growing companies in Yorkshire in the Yorkshire Growth Index.
THE ROLE
As Deputy Head of Department in our Residential Conveyancing team, you will be at the heart of driving the success and expansion of the team. This role offers the perfect balance of hands-on caseload management, team leadership, and strategic support to the department head.
You’ll be joining our award-winning Residential Conveyancing
team, recently crowned Residential Property Team – Large Team of the Year at
the 2025 British Conveyancing Awards. The department’s continued success is
built on meaningful, quality, and value-driven work that truly makes a
difference to our clients.
WHAT YOU'LL BE DOING
WHAT YOU'LL BRING
Click the link below to submit your application and a member of the team will be in touch. For any questions please contact
Recruitment@Switalskis.com
ABOUT US
Switalskis is an award-winning law firm listed in The Sunday Times Best Places to Work 2024.
Established in 1993 by Stephen Switalskis, we began with a focus on child care law and criminal law from a single office in Wakefield. Since then we’ve expanded to 11 locations employing approximately 400 people who provide a wide array of specialist legal services.
A career at Switalskis means being part of a firm that cares and is here for you. We’re dynamic and progressive, and we never stand still. Last year we were crowned Large Firm of the Year at The Yorkshire Legal Awards and named in the top 50 fastest growing companies in Yorkshire in the Yorkshire Growth Index.
The Role
We are seeking a Trainee Costs Draftsman/Costs Lawyer to join our team.
A Costs Draftsman is a legal professional who works and specialises in the law and practice of legal costs. A Costs Lawyer is someone who has undertaken professional qualification in legal costs and is regulated by the Costs Lawyers Standards Board.
This role offers day-to-day variety, with responsibilities including the preparing costs claims for the Legal Aid Agency, legal papers and appeals and advising solicitors on costs recovery. The role is to specialise in Legal Aid costs recovery.
Key Responsibilities
• Preparing claims for costs for submission to the Legal Aid Agency across a wide variety of departments including Care, Family, Criminal and Court of Protection.
• Drafting and reviewing legal documents relating to costs.
• Advising solicitors on recoverable costs.
What You’ll Bring
• A genuine interest in law and a desire to pursue a career within a legal setting.
• A positive, proactive attitude with a willingness to learn.
• Excellent attention to detail.
• Strong literacy and numeracy skills.
• No previous legal experience is necessary – full training will be provided.
What We Can Offer
• Full day-to-day training and support within a highly experienced and approachable team.
• Financial support to complete the Costs Lawyer qualification.
• A wide range of employee benefits (see more at switalskis.com/careers).
• A competitive starting salary.
• A supportive, friendly workplace committed to your development and career progression.
Working Arrangements
You would be required to attend our Bradford office at least twice a week during your initial training period.
Following this, hybrid working or working from one of our alternative Yorkshire offices is available by arrangement.
ABOUT US
Switalskis is an award-winning law firm listed in The Sunday Times Best Places to Work 2024.
Established in 1993 by Stephen Switalski, we began with a focus on child care law and criminal law from a single office in Wakefield. Since then we’ve expanded to 11 locations employing approximately 400 people who provide a wide array of specialist legal services.
A career at Switalskis means being part of a firm that cares and is here for you. We’re dynamic and progressive, and we never stand still. Last year we were crowned Large Firm of the Year at The Yorkshire Legal Awards and named in the top 50 fastest growing companies in Yorkshire in the Yorkshire Growth Index.
The role
We are recruiting a Costs Lawyer or Costs Draftsperson with experience in legal aid costing to join our internal costs department.
This is an exciting opportunity to join a well established internal team which continues to grow and develop and supports costs recovery across the firm in all areas, however this role would specialise in legal aid recovery.
Key Responsibilities
Whether you have a few years experience, or 30 years, we would love to hear from you!
The successful candidate will have a good working knowledge of the Costs Assessment Guidance and Civil Finance Electronic Handbook as well as a good standard of English & arithmetic.
You will need to be able to work unsupervised in at least some of the following areas:
· Care (public law)
· Family (private law)
· Court of protection (health and welfare)
· Crime (Magistrates and Crown)
Experience of using a case management system and the costmaster billing software would be advantageous.
Some experience of Court of Protection (Finance) costs (non legal aid) would also be advantageous but not essential.
What you'll be doing
· Preparation of both fixed fee and hourly rates claims in the above areas
· Preparing High Costs Case Plans for Court of Protection (Health and Welfare) and Care
· Submitting claims on the legal aid portal (CCMS) and collating accompanying documentation
· Advising fee earners
· Liaising with Counsel’s chambers in relation to claims
· Liaising with third parties where appropriate
· Preparing appeals to assessments
·
Preparation of Claim 1 and 2 forms
The role can be based at any of our Yorkshire offices, although the legal aid costs team is based predominately at Bradford, and therefore travel to Bradford may be required at times. The role can be office based or hybrid.
Click the link below to submit your application and a member of the team will be in touch. For any questions please contact Recruitment@Switalskis.com.
ABOUT US
Switalskis is an award-winning law firm listed in The Sunday Times Best Places to Work 2024.
Established in 1993 by Stephen Switalski, we began with a focus on child care law and criminal law from a single office in Wakefield. Since then we’ve expanded to 11 locations employing approximately 400 people who provide a wide array of specialist legal services.
A career at Switalskis means being part of a firm that cares and is here for you. We’re dynamic and progressive, and we never stand still. Last year we were crowned Large Firm of the Year at The Yorkshire Legal Awards and named in the top 50 fastest growing companies in Yorkshire in the Yorkshire Growth Index.
What is expected of you?
To work closely in a mini team led by a Senior Associate /Director, assisting on complex and high value clinical negligence claims, while also maintaining a caseload of lower complexity and value, across all types of clinical negligence work.
What Will the role involve?
We have a number of fee earner positions available within our Clinical Negligence teams based at office in either Leeds or York on a Hybrid basis.
All positions are ideally full-time, but part-time applications will be considered.
The role will involve working in a mini team led by a Senior Associate / Director, assisting on complex and high value clinical negligence claims, while also maintaining a caseload of lower complexity and value (depending on the successful candidate's skills and experience), across all types of clinical negligence work.
Experience
We will consider applicants who are qualified solicitors, trainee solicitors or legal executives with experience of running their own files. We will also consider those with experience of either Claimant work or Defendant work.
What you will bring
You should have experience of conducting clinical negligence claims, or a demonstrable enthusiasm for the work. In addition, we are looking for candidates who can demonstrate the following:
Click the link below to submit your application and a member of the team will be in touch. For any questions please contact
Recruitment@Switalskis.com
Choosing Switalskis for the next step in your career is choosing a firm that not only recognises your expertise but is committed to fostering an environment for your personal growth. We have a well-established and strong reputation in the legal sector. Our efforts have been recognised as we were named in the top 50 fastest growing companies in Yorkshire in TheBusinessDesk.com’s Yorkshire Growth Index 2023 and we won ‘Large Firm of the Year’ at the Yorkshire Legal Awards 2023.
Your growth is important to us. Switalskis provides opportunities for professional development, to help you to further hone your skills and advance in your career. Our firm spans a wide range of legal disciplines, providing a rich environment for you to explore, learn and specialise in your field of interest.
We believe in teamwork and mutual support. Our collaborative culture encourages knowledge-sharing, mentorship and collective problem-solving. You can also engage in meaningful community initiatives as part of a firm that values giving back to society.
Switalskis is not just a place to work; it’s a platform for you to excel, make a difference, and enjoy a fulfilling and progressive career in a respectful and supportive environment. Explore our opportunities for experienced hires and become a part of a firm that’s as invested in your success as you are.
Find out what our employees have to say about their experience at Switalskis:
I enjoy hybrid working. When I am in the office, I use this as time to speak with colleagues about their thoughts on cases and anything relevant within the news for example, a judgment. When I am at home, I use this time to complete detailed pieces of work without the distraction of the office. I’m also able to get out on a lunch time to walk my Sproodle!
I’ve always known I wanted to help people but ruled out several professions before deciding on law. The first seat of my training contract was in commercial property, working between the Leeds and Knaresborough offices. I found the work very interesting especially drafting documents. I recently moved to the clinical negligence team, for my second seat, which I am finding both stimulating and challenging. Since joining, my integration into Switalskis has been seamless as everyone has been very welcoming and inviting. I think it helped that I often brought in brownies and cakes that I’d baked!
In 2012 I joined the Costs Team and in 2014 started studying the ACL Costs Lawyer course. I qualified as a Costs Lawyer in August 2017 and in 2023 I was promoted to Associate Costs Lawyer. I've not worked anywhere prior to Atherton Godfrey who integrated with Switalskis in December 2022, my entire career since the 90s has been at the same firm.
I start my day by responding to any emails. I then check my task list and I complete any urgent tasks first. I complete records reviews, draft letters of instruction to experts and review expert reports. I also have cases that are in litigation where deadlines need to be adhered to and documents must be served. I also liaise with clients on a daily basis providing updates and taking instructions.
There’s not a typical day in the Court of Protection, and that’s what I love most about it. Each client is so different and so we need to be able to take each client as they come to try and work out what will be best for them and how best to achieve it. I love travelling and meeting the clients but there is also lot of time in the office - preparing advice, drafting documents, and attending court, as many of our hearings are still being heard remotely.
If you have any questions about our vacancies, please don’t hesitate to contact us. Call us on 0800 138 0458 or send us a message and we’ll be happy to help.