Crown Prosecutor (CPS) - qualified entry level role in St Albans

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 Prosecution Service is 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.

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 by 16 March 2026.
• 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, either the Solicitors Regulation Authority or the Bar Standards Board.
• CILEx: You must be a Fellow of CILEx and a CILEx Advocate/Litigator holding all three advocacy certificates providing you with a 'general qualification' within the meaning of s (3) (c) Courts and Legal Services Act 1990. 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 in order to meet the requirements for a Crown Prosecutor specified by section 1 Prosecution of Offences Act 1985. If you don't hold this CILEx qualification, you're not eligible to apply for this vacancy.

Crown Prosecutors Court Attendance:

Crown prosecutors are court-based positions only. Successful candidates are required to attend court daily, to carry out their role. The Crown Prosecution Service is a disability confident employer so is committed to make reasonable adjustments which enables daily attendance at court.

Work arrangements:

We encourage you to consider if the commute from home to the office/court is a feasible distance to travel before making an application. If you are successful, hybrid working will be discussed prior to taking up the post.

Security:

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check. People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard checks.

Nationality requirements:

• UK nationals
• Nationals of the Republic of Ireland
• Nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
• Nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• Nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• Individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
• Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service

Fraud check:

The Crown Prosecution Service provides a Fair Processing Notice to all new applicants after they've been successful at interview. These candidates are informed that, as one aspect of pre-employment screening, their personal details - name, National Insurance number and date of birth - are checked against the Internal Fraud Database. Anyone included on the database is refused employment unless they can demonstrate exceptional circumstances. The Crown Prosecution Service, on behalf of the vacancy holder, informs applicants when they are refused employment because they're included in the Internal Fraud Database.

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 and Retention Allowance (RRA) in London.
• A Civil Service contributory 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.