Crown Prosecutor (CPS) - qualified entry level role in London

The Crown Prosecution Service, the independent body in England and Wales that prosecutes criminal cases investigated by the police, deciding charges, preparing cases, and presenting them in court while supporting victims.

As a crown prosecutor you are based in the magistrates' court, working with prosecution teams to review and present evidence in cases ranging from common assault to drugs offences. The crown prosecutor position is our entry level lawyer role, ideal for newly qualified lawyers or those with no criminal law experience. You gain a wealth of exposure in the criminal court, further developing your legal knowledge and career progression.

Initially, you work on more straightforward cases but should progress quickly to dealing with more serious casework. On completion of your crown prosecutor training, you are able to advise police and other investigators (except statutory pre-charge advice), undertake advocacy, review and undertake case preparation in summary and either-way matters heard in the magistrates' court.

Your role involves advocacy in the Magistrates Court, where you will spend most of your time prosecuting the full range of courts. You will work with stakeholders, including the police, court staff and defence solicitors. You will support victims and witnesses attending court to give evidence in contested matters.

You benefit from a structured induction, four-month training plan and opportunities to shadow colleagues across the organisation. Once you gain further experience, you have options to progress into senior crown prosecutor, crown advocate and legal manager roles.

Your roles and responsibilities:

• To prepare and present cases for prosecution in the magistrates' court
• To advise police and other investigators on casework in a wide range of summary-only and some either-way offences
• To decide, based on evidence, whether prosecutions should proceed or be discontinued in matters heard in the magistrates' court
• To explain our decisions clearly to stakeholders including magistrates, counsel, victims, witnesses and the police
• To work effectively as part of a multiskilled team

Profile

The successful candidate will be a qualified lawyer who is able to demonstrate commitment to public service, making a difference to communities and Crown Prosecution Service values. You will be focused on personal development and career progression. No prior experience in criminal law is required for this role.

Qualifications

• Legally qualified: You must be a qualified solicitor or barrister. You must be able to obtain a valid Practising Certificate for England and Wales.
• Academic: You must have a law degree, Common Professional Examination and/or Graduate Diploma in Law.
• Professional: You must have completed a Legal Practice Course, Solicitors Qualifying Exam or Bar Professional Training Course and the relevant pupillage and training contract – or have received full exemption from the relevant professional regulatory body.
• CILEx: You must be a Fellow of CILEx and a CILEx Advocate/Litigator holding all three advocacy certificates providing you with a 'general qualification'. You must have a right of audience in relation to any class of proceedings in any part of the Senior Courts, or all proceedings in county courts or magistrates' courts.

If you apply and are found not to possess any of the above, any offer of employment will be withdrawn, or contract terminated. Equivalent qualifications won't be accepted.

Job Offer

The starting salary and benefits for this opportunity is: Salary: £44,520 - £47,720 (National) and £46,800 - £50,000 + £3,150 Recruitment Allowance in London. A civil service contributive pension of up to 28%, 25 days' leave, increasing to 30 days after 5 years, lawyer training programme, an extra privilege day to mark the King's birthday, competitive maternity, paternity and parental leave, flexible working and a family-friendly approach to work, a Cycle2Work scheme, employee savings, a range of learning and development activities, an individual learning account, and central and local development opportunities.

Please note that this role is available nationally, but this advert is specifically for candidates who would wish to be located in Brighton and Hove, Cambridge, Canterbury, Chelmsford, Eastleigh, Guildford, Ipswich, London, Northampton, St Albans.