From answering a newspaper advert as a law graduate to leading a busy drafting and negotiation team more than two decades later, Vicky Davies’ career in legal costs is a story many in the profession will recognise – one that began almost by accident but quickly became a vocation.
In this edition of My Story, Vicky reflects on her journey into costs law, what she enjoys most about developing people, and how family life – and recently women’s football – keeps her firmly grounded outside work.
How did your journey into legal costs begin?
Like many people working in costs, I didn’t set out knowing it even existed.
After graduating from Liverpool John Moores University with a Law degree, I was applying for training contracts and trying to work out my next step. I came across a newspaper advert simply looking for “Law Graduates,” applied, and ended up starting in the admin department of a costs firm in 2001.
At the time, I didn’t know what legal costs really involved – but once I was in the door, I realised how varied and technical the work could be. I started with schedules and bills, gradually moving into more complex Multi-Track matters, learning on the job while building confidence and experience.
Alongside working full time, I completed my LPC at Chester Law College, qualified through the ALCD in 2007, and later became a Costs Lawyer in 2010. Looking back, it wasn’t the path I originally imagined, but it turned out to be the right one.
What kept you in costs as your career developed?
Initially, it was the people.
Even when the work felt quite administrative early on, I worked with a really supportive group, and that makes a huge difference when you’re starting out. As I gained experience, I began to see the bigger picture – the strategy behind cases, the negotiation element, and the responsibility that comes with getting things right for clients.
Costs has changed enormously over the years. Fixed costs reforms probably had the biggest impact I’ve seen. They reshaped the sector completely and reduced the scope of work in some areas, and many smaller firms struggled as a result. It forced the profession to adapt quickly.
But what’s stayed constant is the importance of expertise and collaboration – and that’s what’s kept me engaged.
What does your role at Your Legal Costs involve today?
My role is largely focused on leading the drafting team day to day – allocating files, supporting the team with queries, reporting to senior management, and helping people develop their skills.
A big part of my time is spent training colleagues, particularly helping team members progress into more complex Multi-Track work. That takes patience and ongoing guidance, but it’s one of the most rewarding parts of the job. Seeing someone grow in confidence and capability is genuinely satisfying.
We’re a relatively close-knit team, and maintaining that supportive environment matters to me. Even when workloads are busy, people feel comfortable asking questions and helping each other out, which keeps morale strong and ultimately benefits clients too.
I still enjoy getting involved technically when needed – it keeps my drafting skills sharp and helps me stay connected to the work the team is doing every day.
If you hadn’t gone into costs, what might you have done?
Probably personal injury work.
I’ve always been drawn to the justice aspect of law – helping people navigate difficult situations and achieve fair outcomes. That sense of purpose still underpins what we do in costs, even if it sits slightly behind the scenes.
What does a typical day look like for you?
No two days are exactly the same, which I like.
Most days involve balancing management responsibilities with team support – allocating new instructions, answering queries, reviewing work, and ensuring deadlines and reporting stay on track. A lot of time goes into mentoring and guiding colleagues as they move into more complex drafting.
It’s about finding the right balance between business needs and team wellbeing. When people feel supported and confident, everything runs more smoothly.
Life outside work seems very family-focused – tell us about that
Family is definitely the centre of everything for me.
My husband John works in his family’s concrete business – he’s been there since he was 18 – so life is busy for both of us. Our children, Joseph (13) and Olivia (11), keep us constantly on the move.
Football has been a huge part of family life for years. Joseph has played since he was three and still plays with many of the same teammates today, training during the week and playing most weekends. Olivia has recently discovered her own love of football too, which has been lovely to see.
Like many parents, I’ve also become a full-time taxi service!
We’re a very close family overall – my parents live nearby, and my sister, who is also my best friend, is only a short walk away. We spend a lot of time together, whether that’s family meals, spa days, or simply catching up.
And you’ve recently taken up football yourself…
Yes – completely unexpectedly!
I wanted to find a way to exercise that felt enjoyable rather than forcing myself to go to the gym, which I never really loved. A friend encouraged me to come along to a training session, and from there a group of us formed a team in the She Inspires development league.
We’re all complete beginners, which makes it even better. We train weekly and now play league matches as well – it’s great fun, good exercise, and very social. Women’s football is growing so quickly, and it’s brilliant to see more opportunities for people to get involved at any age or ability level.
It’s safe to say the gym membership is no longer required!
What do weekends usually look like?
Mostly football – watching, playing, or travelling between pitches!
When we do get downtime, we enjoy bike rides, family time, and the occasional TV series marathon. Music is always playing in our house too – everything from classic bands like the Eagles through to more modern playlists chosen by the kids.
The children recently tried to convince us to get a dog by creating a full slide presentation addressing every parental objection – costs, holidays, vet bills, everything! It was impressively detailed and clearly well thought through. As tempting as it was, we know that with everyone out during the day and life already full with work, school and football commitments, it wouldn’t be fair to leave a dog at home for long stretches or rely on outside help to make it work. For now, it remains a well-argued proposal rather than a family pet – although it’s definitely a “one day” conversation rather than a firm no.
Any travel plans or dream destinations?
Historically we’ve loved all-inclusive family holidays somewhere sunny, but now the kids are getting older we’re starting to think more about exploring places together.
Rome is high on the list – seeing the Colosseum and Vatican City – and one day we’d love to visit Rio de Janeiro to see Christ the Redeemer. A cruise is also on the wish list, inspired by my parents who absolutely love them.
Although, realistically, the next big investment might be fixing the bathroom after a recent leak!
What drives success for you?
For me, success is about progression – gaining experience and then passing that knowledge on.
I’ve always valued strong working relationships, and I try to be approachable so people feel comfortable coming to me with questions. If the team succeeds and develops, that feels like a natural measure of success.
Looking ahead – what’s the big goal?
To see more of the world as a family and make the most of time together while the children are growing up.
Ultimately, it’s about raising happy, healthy kids, continuing to grow professionally, and enjoying the journey along the way.