Paul Hawkins

Profile

I have over 20 years’ experience of drafting bills and conducting assessments in a wide range of cases including housing, planning, immigration, judicial review, family/childcare, personal injury, professional negligence, clinical negligence and Court of Protection. Over the years I have appeared at numerous hearings in the County Courts, the SCCO and the House of Lords / Supreme Court.

Most of my work involves cases funded by Legal Aid, which I believe is an essential function of a civilised society. I value accuracy, attention to detail and high standards of presentation, and I thoroughly enjoy the unique blend of law, mathematics and language required to be an effective draftsman.

I started as a costs clerk in a Birmingham Legal Aid firm in 1996, initially resolving account balances and costs queries on concluded files. This instilled in me an enduring determination to pay attention to small details. I subsequently graduated to conducting assessments and preparing bills in Legal Aid housing, immigration, family and public law cases, and was promoted to Head of Costs.

I then spent 3 years drafting bills and negotiating costs at a Birmingham personal injury firm, dealing with a wide range of road traffic, employers liability, industrial accident and public liability cases, variously funded by legal expenses insurance, CFAs and trade union funding.

In 2002 I took the decision to start my own costs drafting firm. This traded successfully for 17 years, growing to a team of 5, until the exciting opportunity arose to join Duncan Lewis (Cost Law Services) in 2019.

I have worked on several high-profile housing and travellers’ rights cases that reached the House of Lords / Supreme Court, including:

• South Buckinghamshire District Council v Porter


• Doherty v Birmingham City Council


• Ali & Tomlinson v Birmingham City Council


• SSEFRA v Meier


• Birmingham CC v Ali, Aweys & others

Education

• BTEC HND in Business Studies at Birmingham Polytechnic

Career

• Duncan Lewis Solicitors, 2019-present

Interests

• Reading


• Music


• Watching and playing football


• Hillwalking


• Mountain biking


• Gardening


• Real ale