More info
Head of chambers
DPP Max Hill
The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) delivers justice – working with our partners at the heart of the criminal justice system to protect the public and create a safe society. As a legal trainee you will play a key role in this while getting the support and opportunities you need to develop your career.
Supporting the success of our people is a priority for the CPS. Post qualification, our legal trainees regularly progress into key leadership roles and/or become specialists with considerable expertise in complex and intellectually challenging casework such as fraud, extradition, sexual offences or counter terrorism.
Opportunities to apply for roles as Crown Advocates, who exercise Crown Court rights predominately, may follow qualified appointment as Crown Prosecutors but are not guaranteed as they are dependent on the developing requirements of the service – however a programme of career progression for the individual is integral to the offer and many other opportunities are available.
We are currently recruiting trainees as part of our succession planning for lawyers. The application process will open on 28 February with a closing date of 1 March 2019; applications are welcome from people who already hold the LPC or BPTC and those who are due to complete in time to start in November 2019. If you successfully complete your training with us you will be appointed as a Crown Prosecutor on admission.
To apply please visit http://bit.ly/2CQF9qe.
Types of work
A trainee in the CPS will be exposed to all aspects of case preparation. This typically includes advice to the police, research, attendance at hearings in the Magistrates' and Crown Courts, case preparation and case management. There may also be the opportunity in the latter part of a training contract for trainee solicitors to gain rights of audience in the Magistrates' courts and to prosecute straightforward cases.
Who should apply
The CPS is an equal opportunities employer. Our policies, including the need to guard against false assumptions based on sex or marital status, gender reassignment, sexual orientation, colour, race, religion, ethnic or national origin, work pattern, ie part-time working, age or disability, are followed at all stages of the recruitment and selection procedure. The CPS is also a Disability Confident employer.
There is a minimum academic requirement with applicants requiring a 2.2 undergraduate degree.
A pupil in the CPS will be exposed to all aspects of case preparation. This typically includes advice to the police, research, attendance at hearings in the Magistrates' and Crown Courts, case preparation and case management. CPS pupils spend four weeks in chambers during the non-practising period to gain experience of the self-employed Bar and to understand how sets of chambers and clerking arrangements work.
Pupils are expected to gain extensive experience in the magistrates’ courts and to undertake bail applications and gain exposure to appropriate Crown Court work.
The CPS is an equal opportunities employer. Our policies, including the need to guard against false assumptions based on sex or marital status, gender reassignment, sexual orientation, colour, race, religion, ethnic or national origin, work pattern, ie part-time working, age or disability, are followed at all stages of the recruitment and selection procedure. The CPS is also a Disability Confident employer.
There is a minimum academic requirement with applicants requiring a 2.2 undergraduate degree.
There is one CPS training principal but all trainees have an individual supervisor in their office. The trained supervisor, who will be an experienced crown prosecutor, has responsibility for the trainee's day-to-day work, ensuring both personal development and an excellent knowledge of the work of the CPS.
Full induction is given including details of the Law Society's requirements, what a trainee can expect from the CPS and a talk from a current trainee. Further learning and development opportunities are provided as required.
Most of our training is delivered through our award winning 'Prosecution College' in a blended format comprising online e-learning modules and face-to-face training courses. There is a programme of required and recommended learning for all trainees.
The selection process will consist of an online application, video interview, legal assessment, presentation and competency-based interview. The application window will be advertised on www.cps.gov.uk/careers.
Practice Areas
Extra info
Phone: 020 3357 0899
Email: strategic.resourcing@cps.gsi.gov.uk
Web: www.cps.gov.uk
| Mini-pupillages: | No |
| Minimum qualification: | BPTC/LPC |
