Trainee Solicitor multiple - October 2026 - Crown Prosecution Service

Deadline: 1pm 6 February 2025

Job summary

Are you an aspiring solicitor with an interest in criminal law? Apply for the Crown Prosecution Service legal trainee scheme now and start your training pathway in October 2026.

At the Crown Prosecution Service, we’re responsible for delivering justice through the independent and effective prosecution of crime. We are the biggest employer of criminal law specialists in England and Wales, and ranked as one of the most attractive employers for law students by Universum. 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.

As a trainee solicitor, we offer you a comprehensive two-year training programme and a permanent role as a crown prosecutor after successfully completing our legal trainee scheme. You’re supported by a highly trained supervisor who offers guidance and opportunities to develop your understanding of working as a prosecutor. You have at least one secondment in an area outside of criminal law, and complete courses in proactive prosecuting, disclosure, advocacy skills, domestic abuse advocacy drills, and a CiLEX-regulated associate prosecutor qualification for rights of audience, enabling you to present independently in court.

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 roles.

We currently have two adverts live, one for a pupil barrister role and one for a trainee solicitor role. You can only submit one application for these vacancies. If you apply for both positions, or the same position more than once, we will only accept an application for the first role you applied for and will automatically reject the second.

In addition, we have two adverts live for Welsh speakers, if you are an aspiring barrister or solicitor who speaks Welsh, we encourage you to apply under one of those separate adverts.

Job description

Our legal trainee scheme is an extensive training programme to help you become a fully qualified solicitor. You gain valuable experience in all areas of criminal law, from reviewing cases and preparing pre-charge advice to meeting with victims and witnesses. You’re guaranteed a permanent position as a crown prosecutor after successfully completing your training period

Person specification

We're looking for people with:

• a demonstrable interest in criminal prosecution and public service
• demonstrable knowledge and understanding of the work of the Crown Prosecution Service and our role in the wider criminal justice system
• a strong focus on continuous learning and the ability to apply knowledge of criminal law gained from study and experience
• commitment to a career as a lawyer practising criminal law in the Crown Prosecution Service

Your role and responsibilities

• To prepare cases for prosecution on summary-only and either-way offences in the magistrates’ court working with caseworkers, meeting witnesses and supporting counsel.
• To advise police and other investigators on charging decisions, and work with criminal justice partners, defence lawyers and counsel on casework.
• To shadow prosecutors at magistrates’ and Crown Court and observe advocacy.
• To attend conferences with police and counsel, and meetings with victims and witnesses.
• To carry out legal research and provide feedback to your legal supervisor and other colleagues.
• To work with a supervisor throughout pupillage, keeping accurate records of work and meeting to discuss your training progress.
• To arrange and complete your required work secondments.

Qualifications

Undergraduate degree
You must hold a minimum of a 2:2 university undergraduate degree. This doesn’t need to be in law, we consider equivalent undergraduate degrees.

If you have completed the Legal Practice Course (LPC) and have an undergraduate degree at a minimum of a 2:2 in a subject other than law, you must have completed one of the following conversion courses:
• Graduate Diploma in Law (GDL)
• Common Professional Examination (CPE)

If you have opted for the Solicitor Qualifying Exams (SQE) route, a conversion course isn’t required. We accept non-law degrees along with successful SQE 1 and 2 results, without the GDL or CPE.

Postgraduate qualifications
You must have successfully completed, or be due to complete, the Legal Practice Course or Solicitor Qualifying Exams 1 and 2 to be able to start the legal trainee scheme in October 2026.

You must provide your qualifications to our recruitment team by 1 September 2026. If you’re unable to provide confirmation of passing your LPC or SQE by this time, you’re removed from the process.

We don’t accept CILEX instead of the LPC or SQE qualification.

The Crown Prosecution Service doesn't offer sponsorship for vocational qualifications. We check all certificates and academic qualifications if you’re invited to complete an online video interview.

It’s your responsibly to provide supporting evidence of academic eligibility within the deadline.

If you don’t include your undergraduate and postgraduate qualifications on your application form, you won’t meet the eligibility criteria and will be removed from the recruitment process.

Behaviours

We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:

• Making Effective Decisions
• Seeing the Big Picture
• Delivering at Pace
• Communicating and Influencing

Technical skills

We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:

• Undergraduate Degree
• Postgraduate Qualifications

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £29,620, Crown Prosecution Service contributes £8,580 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. 

You’re guaranteed either a crown prosecutor or crown advocate role after successfully completing your legal trainee scheme. 

The Crown Prosecution Service is passionate about ensuring that we are a top performing organisation and a great place to work. We are committed to being an equal opportunities employer and creating a culture where everyone can bring their whole self to work, and individuality is truly appreciated.

We want to ensure all our employees can thrive at work and home and offer a range of support to achieve a balance. This includes where possible, flexibility of working hours and flexibility to support caring responsibilities. Your working week is spent in either court or the office to ensure you get the most from your supervisor and training.

We also offer a range of benefits: 

• a Civil Service contributory pension of up to 28.9% 
• 25 days’ leave, increasing to 30 days after 5 years
• an extra privilege day to mark the King's birthday
• competitive maternity, paternity and parental leave
• Cycle2Work scheme, employee savings
• up to £350 each year to spend on personal development

Locations

Birmingham, Brighton and Hove, Bristol, Cambridge, Canterbury, Cardiff, Carlisle, Chelmsford, Eastleigh, Exeter, Guildford, Hull, Ipswich, Leeds, Leicester, Liverpool, London, Manchester, Middlesbrough, Mold, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Norwich, Nottingham, Portsmouth, Preston, Reading, Sheffield, St Albans, Swansea, Truro

For further information on this vacancy and to apply, select Apply.