As a senior crown prosecutor at the Crown Prosecution Service
As a senior crown prosecutor at the Crown Prosecution Service, you work on some of the most complex and challenging cases – from fraud and firearms offences to public order and corporate manslaughter.
Client Details
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.
Description
Senior crown prosecutors are highly trained, experienced lawyers with excellent people skills and a passion for delivering justice. The role is largely office and/or court based. You review evidence and decide whether a case should be prosecuted, in line with the Code for Crown Prosecutors. Depending on experience level, you are based in one of three units – magistrates court, Crown Court or rape and serious sexual offences – and represent the Crown Prosecution Service on the frontline, collaborating closely with colleagues, police and the judiciary.
You play a vital role in maintaining public confidence in our work. You benefit from a structured induction four‑month training plan and opportunities to shadow colleagues across the organisation. With further experience you can progress into legal manager and crown advocate roles.
Your roles and responsibilities
* Advise police and other investigators on casework and evidence requirements for a wide range of offences.
* Review case files and charging decisions, provide legal advice and make the final decision on whether prosecutions should proceed in the magistrates and Crown Courts.
* Advocate in serious and sensitive cases in the magistrates courts including Youth Courts, not‑guilty anticipated plea court lists and multi‑day trials.
* Explain our decisions clearly to stakeholders including magistrates, counsel, victims, witnesses and the police.
* Work effectively as part of a multi‑skilled team and maintain up‑to‑date knowledge of criminal offences.
The prosecution teams
Each Crown Prosecution Service area has a Crown Court, magistrates court and a rape and serious sexual offences (RASSO) team. As a senior crown prosecutor you should be able to work in any of these teams, although placement is based on experience and preference where possible. Whichever team you join, you receive a detailed training and induction plan for your first four months.
Working in our Crown Court team, you have a personal caseload of serious casework. You give charging advice to the police on cases to be heard in the Crown Court, working with our paralegal officers and counsel to prepare cases for court.
In our magistrates court team, you are an advocate dealing with the full range of courts including trial courts. You have a personal caseload, give pre‑charge advice to the police on magistrates court cases and prepare cases for court. You may work on a specialist team such as domestic abuse or a youth team.
In our RASSO team, you have a personal caseload comprising rape and serious sexual offences. You give charging and early indicative advice to the police on RASSO cases, working with our paralegal staff and counsel to prepare cases for court.
Profile
Person specification
* You must be a qualified lawyer with criminal law experience.
* You must demonstrate a commitment to public service, making a difference to the communities we serve and embodying the Crown Prosecution Service values.
* You are focused on personal development and career progression.
Qualifications
Legally qualified: You must be a qualified solicitor or barrister. You must 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.
or
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, to meet the Crown Prosecutor requirements of section 1 Prosecution of Offences Act 1985. If you do not hold this CILEx qualification you are not eligible to apply. Should you apply and be found not to possess any of the above, any offer of employment will be withdrawn or the contract terminated.
Equivalent qualifications will not be accepted. If you are unsure about your eligibility, please contact the Crown Prosecution Service.
Fraud check
The Crown Prosecution Service provides a Fair Processing Notice to all new applicants after a successful interview. These candidates are informed that, as part 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 if they are refused employment because they are included in the Internal Fraud Database.
Security
Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check. People working with government assets must complete a baseline personnel security standard check.
Nationality requirements
This job is broadly open to the following groups:
* 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 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
Job Offer
Pay at the Crown Prosecution Service varies depending on your location.
Cambridge, Northampton, Norwich: £55,975 (starting pay), £63,500 (maximum pay)
Brighton, Canterbury, Chelmsford, Eastleigh, Guildford: £61,750 (starting pay), £71,400 (maximum pay)
St Albans: £61,750 + £1,050 RRA (starting pay), £71,400 + £1,050 RRA (maximum pay)
London: £61,750 + £3,150 RRA (starting pay), £71,400 + £3,150 RRA (maximum pay)
Other benefits include:
* A Civil Service contributory pension of up to 28%
* 25 days leave, increasing to 30 days after 5 years
* An extra privilege day to mark the Kings 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.
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