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Crown prosecutor

Alternative titles for this job include Reviewing lawyer

Crown prosecutors make sure that decisions to bring people to court are fair and likely to succeed.

Average salary (a year)

£32,000 Starter

to

£115,000 Experienced

Typical hours (a week)

36 to 38 a week

You could work

evenings / weekends / bank holidays on a rota

How to become

How to become a crown prosecutor

You can get into this job through:

  • working towards this role
  • applying directly

Work

You must be a qualified solicitor or barrister in order to get into this career. You can train for these roles through the Crown Prosecution Service Legal Trainee Scheme. You'll need at least a lower second class degree for this.

Direct Application

You can apply for this job if you've trained as a solicitor or barrister and have completed your Legal Practice Course or Bar Professional Training Course and a 2-year training contract or a 12-month pupillage.

More Information

Further information

You can find out more about being a crown prosecutor from the Crown Prosecution Service.

What it takes

What it takes

Skills and knowledge

You'll need:

  • legal knowledge including court procedures and government regulations
  • knowledge of English language
  • excellent verbal communication skills
  • active listening skills
  • analytical thinking skills
  • the ability to read English
  • to be thorough and pay attention to detail
  • the ability to think clearly using logic and reasoning
  • to be able to use a computer and the main software packages confidently

Restrictions and Requirements

You'll need to:

What you’ll do

What you'll do

Day-to-day tasks

In this role you could:

  • check facts and documents for each case
  • advise which charges are suitable
  • explain decisions to defence lawyers, witnesses, the police and other agencies
  • decide if there's enough evidence to convict, and if it's reliable and can be used in court
  • prepare the case for the prosecution
  • make sure relevant evidence is put before the court
  • present the case to a panel of magistrates or judges, or to a judge and jury, depending on the court
  • question the defendant and witnesses
  • sum up the case for the prosecution

You'll also be:

  • train other prosecutors and caseworkers
  • represent the CPS at casework conferences

Working environment

You could work in an office or in a court.

Your working environment may be emotionally demanding.

Career path and progression

Career path and progression

With experience and further training you could progress to senior crown prosecutor.

From there you could become crown advocate, senior crown advocate and principal crown advocate.

Current opportunities

Current opportunities

Apprenticeships In England

We can't find any apprenticeship vacancies in England for a crown prosecutor right now.

The Find an apprenticeship service can help you with your search, send alerts when new apprenticeships become available and has advice on how to apply.

Courses In England

CILEX Legal Secretaries - Diploma

  • Provider: UNIFIED SEEVIC PALMER'S COLLEGE
  • Start date: 01 September 2021
  • Location: GRAYS

Legal Administration and Law CILEx Level 3 Diploma

  • Provider: THE KING JOHN SCHOOL
  • Start date: 01 September 2021
  • Location: Benfleet
Find courses near you

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