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.
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 a crown prosecutor
You can get into this job through:
- working towards this role
- applying directly
Work
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
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:
- pass security checks
- pass enhanced background checks
What you'll do
Day-to-day tasks
In this role you could be:
- checking facts and documents for each case
- advising which charges are suitable
- explaining decisions to defence lawyers, witnesses, the police and other agencies
- deciding if there's enough evidence to convict, and if it's reliable and can be used in court
- preparing the case for the prosecution
- making sure relevant evidence is put before the court
- presenting the case to a panel of magistrates or judges, or to a judge and jury, depending on the court
- questioning the defendant and witnesses
- summing up the case for the prosecution
You'll also be:
- training other prosecutors and caseworkers
- representing 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
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
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