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More information >>Posted 06/01/2025
£29,620 to £33,200 per annum
Applications are now open for the Crown Prosecution Service legal trainee scheme. This is an exciting opportunity to kick-start your legal career and become a fully qualified barrister.
About the Crown Prosecution Service
At the Crown Prosecution Service, we’re responsible for delivering justice through the independent and effective prosecution of crime. We’re the largest provider of criminal law pupillages in England and Wales, offering you comprehensive training and a permanent role at the employed Bar after successfully completing our legal trainee scheme. We’re proud to be recognised by our legal trainees in the Legal 500 Future Lawyers survey 2023 for our legal technology, job satisfaction and work-life balance.
About the legal trainee scheme
Our legal trainee scheme is an extensive training programme to help you become a fully qualified barrister. You gain valuable experience in all areas of our legal work, from reviewing cases and preparing pre-charge advice to attending meetings with victims and witnesses. You’re guaranteed a permanent position as a crown prosecutor or crown advocate after successfully completing your pupillage.
You are supported by a supervisor who offers guidance and opportunities to develop your understanding of working as a prosecutor. Your first six months are non-practising – completing advocacy training, legal courses and an optional secondment in chambers. During your remaining six months, you put your training into practice – building your advocacy skills, presenting cases in court and working with criminal justice partners.
You can develop your knowledge by working in specialist crime areas including rape and serious sexual offences, organised crime and fraud. We’re committed to your professional growth and expect, following your initial role in the magistrates’ court, that you have the necessary skills to apply for promotion opportunities based in the Crown Court including senior crown prosecutor and senior crown advocate roles.
We also have two application routes for English/Welsh bilingual trainee solicitors or pupil barristers. If you are an aspiring barrister or solicitor who speaks Welsh, we encourage you to apply under one of these routes.
About you
We’re looking for aspiring barristers with an interest in criminal law. You must have a law degree, Graduate Diploma in Law or Common Professional Examination, and have completed your Bar Course before September 2026. Sound legal intellect and the ability to present cases clearly, both verbally and in writing is essential.
About our benefits
At the Crown Prosecution Service, we pride ourselves on providing benefits that ensure our employees’ needs are central. We want to ensure you can thrive at work and home, offering support to achieve a balance. This includes flexible working hours, flexibility to support caring responsibilities and a family-friendly approach to work. We also offer a range of benefits including:
If you’re ready to take the next step in your legal career, find out more and apply today.
The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) prosecutes criminal cases that have been investigated by the police and other investigative organisations in England and Wales. The CPS is independent, and we make our decisions independently of the police and government.
Our duty is to make sure that the right person is prosecuted for the right offence, and to bring offenders to justice wherever possible.
At the Crown Prosecution Service we are responsible for delivering justice through the independent and effective prosecution of crime. As the principal prosecuting authority across England and Wales the nature and diversity of cases we advise on and prosecute means our work is often challenging and complex.
Our service employs almost 6,000 individuals who think objectively, act professionally, show the utmost respect for others and continually strive for excellence.
102 Petty France, London SW1H 9EA