Go Prosecute for Senior Crown Prosecutors

Go Prosecute for senior crown prosecutors is a secondment at the Crown Prosecution Service to support solicitors and barristers who have left criminal law for a career break and wish to return.

This is a one-year secondment with the option to extend to two years. After the secondment, you can apply for a permanent legal role with us or perhaps consider criminal defence practice or the self-employed criminal Bar.

This is a valuable development opportunity for criminal lawyers to regain their confidence, enhance their prosecutorial skills, and strengthen their professional connection with the Crown Prosecution Service. As part of the scheme, you receive an intensive one-week training course, plus ongoing Crown Prosecution Service online training, how-to guidance and podcasts.

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.

Depending on your experience and agreed working pattern, you could be based in a magistrates unit, Crown Court unit. Or you might work in a specialised unit such as our Serious Economic Organised Crime and International Directorate, or with CPS Direct, our out-of-hours service.

Senior crown prosecutors are highly trained, experienced lawyers with excellent people skills and a passion for delivering justice. This role is largely office-based. Youre responsible for reviewing evidence and making decisions on whether a case should be prosecuted in line with our Code for Crown Prosecutors.

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.

Find out what our senior crown prosecutors say about working at the Crown Prosecution Service by visiting cps.gov.uk/careers/prosecutor.

Your roles and responsibilities:

• You advise police and other investigators on casework and evidence requirements for a wide range of offences
• You review case files and charging decisions, providing legal advice on cases to be presented in both the magistrates and Crown Courts
• You 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 trials
• You explain our decisions clearly to stakeholders including magistrates, counsel, victims, witnesses and the police
• You work effectively as part of a multi-skilled team and maintain up-to-date knowledge of criminal offences

The prosecution teams:

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.

A more detailed job description document is attached to this advert.

• You must have criminal law experience (essential)
• You must be a qualified lawyer
• You must demonstrate your commitment to public service, making a difference to the communities we serve and our Crown Prosecution Service values
• Youre focused on personal development and career progression