Save Job Back to Search Job Description Summary Similar JobsWork on some of the most complex and challenging casesRepresent the Crown Prosecution Service on the frontlineAbout Our ClientAs 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. Senior crown prosecutors are highly trained, experienced lawyers with excellent people skills and a passion for delivering justice. This role is largely office and/or court based. You're responsible for reviewing evidence and making decisions on whether a case should be prosecuted - in line with our Code for Crown Prosecutors. You're based in one of three units - magistrates' court, Crown Court or rape and serious sexual offences - depending on your experience level.You represent the Crown Prosecution Service on the frontline, collaborating closely with colleagues and other criminal justice agencies, including the police and 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. Once you gain further experience, you have options to progress into legal manager and crown advocate roles.Job DescriptionYour roles and responsibilities:To advise police and other investigators on casework and evidence requirements for a wide range of offencesTo review case files and charging decisions, providing legal advice and making the final decision, based on evidence, on whether prosecutions should proceed on cases for the magistrates' and Crown CourtTo undertake advocacy in relation to serious and sensitive cases in the magistrates' courts including Youth Courts, not guilty anticipated plea court lists, and multi-day trialsTo explain our decisions clearly to stakeholders including magistrates, counsel, victims, witnesses and the policeTo work effectively as part of a multi-skilled team and maintain up-to-date knowledge of criminal offencesThe 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're expected to be able to work in any of these teams although we do take into account your experience and, where possible, your personal preference before placing you in a team. Whichever team you join, you're supported with a detailed training and induction plan to cover your first four months with the Crown Prosecution Service. 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 with 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, giving pre-charge advice to the police on magistrates' court cases and you prepare cases for court. You may work on a specialist team such as a domestic abuse or 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.The Successful ApplicantPerson specificationEssential - You must have a minimum of 12 months' criminal law experience or demonstrable experience of managing sensitive and complex cases, clearly evidenced on your CV.Essential- You must demonstrate your commitment to public service, making a difference to the communities we serve and our Crown Prosecution Service values.Essential - You're focused on personal development and career progression.QualificationsLegally qualified: You must be a qualified solicitor or barrister. You must be able to obtain a valid Practising Certificate for England and Wales by 29 June 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.orCILEx: 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.71 (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. If you're unsure whether you have qualified through CILEx, contact us to establish your eligibility for this role.If you apply and are found not to possess any of the above, any offer of employment will be withdrawn, or contract terminated.You must be a fully qualified solicitor or barrister by 29 June 2026. If successful, we must receive your practising certificate as soon as possible. We will not be able to progress pre-employment checks until the practising certificate has been received, and a deadline for this may be set in line with business need. If you're able to meet these requirements by this date, you're eligible to apply.If there are any restrictions or special arrangements regarding your practising certificate, please inform us at the earliest opportunity by email.BehavioursWe'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:Making Effective DecisionsCommunicating and InfluencingTechnical skillsWe'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:You must have a law degree, Common Professional Examination and/or Graduate Diploma in law.You must have completed a Legal Practice Course, Solicitors Qualifying Exam or Bar Vocational Course/Bar Professional Training Course and the relevant pupillage or training contract.You must be a qualified barrister or solicitor.You must demonstrate motivation.You must demonstrate sufficient legal intellectYou must have a minimum of 12 months' criminal law experience or demonstrable experience of managing sensitive and complex cases, clearly evidenced on your CV.We only ask for evidence of these technical skills on your application form:You must have a law degree, Common Professional Examination and/or Graduate Diploma in law.You must have completed a Legal Practice Course, Solicitors Qualifying Exam or Bar Vocational Course/Bar Professional Training Course and the relevant pupillage or training contract.You must be a qualified barrister or solicitor.You must have a minimum of 12 months' criminal law experience or demonstrable experience of managing sensitive and complex cases, clearly evidenced on your CV.What's on OfferBenefitsAlongside your starting salary of £55,975, Crown Prosecution Service contributes £16,215 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme.We want to ensure our employees can thrive at work and home, and offer a range of support to achieve a balance. This includes flexibility of working hours, flexibility to support caring responsibilities and a flexible approach to deployment. Our hybrid working policy requires you to spend at least 40% of your contracted hours over a four-week period at court, in an office or another official workplace depending on business need and the kind of work you're doing.Delivering justice is a complex pursuit with work that is sometimes emotionally challenging, which is why we offer a range of benefits including: a Civil Service contributory pension of up to 28.9%25 days' leave, increasing to 30 days after 5 yearsan extra privilege day to mark the King's birthdaycompetitive maternity, paternity and parental leaveflexible working and a family-friendly approach to worka Cycle2Work scheme, employee savingsa range of learning and development activities, an individual learning account, and central and local development opportunities.ContactCatherine Le Court De BillotQuote job refJN-052026-7012288Phone number+441189337041Job summaryJob functionPublic SectorSubsectorLegal/Financial Markets/CommercialSectorBusiness ServicesLocationSouth West EnglandContract typePermanentConsultant nameCatherine Le Court De BillotConsultant phone+441189337041Job referenceJN-052026-7012288
