By Michelle Mitchell, Marketing Manager at INNEG

In a recent decision, the Costs Judge delivered a clear message: the unnecessary involvement of senior (Grade A) solicitors in routine, lower-value tasks invites challenge - and reductions.

The judgment shines a spotlight on a recurring issue in costs assessments: inefficient task delegation. Where a Grade A solicitor was found heavily involved in file management, document collation, and communications - tasks that could and should have been carried out by junior staff - the court didn’t hesitate to reduce the recoverable time.

This wasn’t just a passing comment. It was a key theme in the detailed assessment. The Judge noted that while delegation is recoverable in principle, where senior fee earners are running the matter and duplicating or undertaking basic administrative or communication tasks themselves, costs will be scrutinised and reduced accordingly.

"There is little to no justification in a Grade A solicitor becoming involved in the more basic aspects of running a case when capable junior assistants are available". - Costs Judge Nagalingam

How INNEG Reduces This Risk

At INNEG, we act as an extension of your legal team, taking on many of the routine but essential medico-legal tasks that often fall outside recoverable costs when handled by senior solicitors.

Our team manages:

Medical record collation, storage, and transfer

Pagination and chronology preparation

Expert liaison and appointment coordination

Document tracking and file management

By outsourcing these tasks to INNEG, you ensure that your Grade A and B solicitors can focus their time on what matters - substantive legal work that's both impactful and recoverable.

For more on how effective feedback can strengthen case outcomes and enhance client relationships, check out our article on The Crucial Role of Solicitor Feedback plays in the success of claims.

The Takeaway

Judgments like XX vs Young are a reminder: efficiency isn't just good practice - it’s cost protection. With INNEG, you gain a trusted partner who helps streamline your claim handling while safeguarding your costs recovery.

We're here to support you. Want to reduce unrecoverable time and stay on the right side of the costs judge?

Contact us to see how INNEG can support your next claim.