Senior Crown Advocate

**Details**:
**Reference number**:

- 333160**Salary**:

- £70,800-
- A Civil Service Pension with an average employer contribution of 27%**Job grade**:

- Grade 6- SCA**Contract type**:

- Permanent**Business area**:

- National**Type of role**:

- Legal Services**Working pattern**:

- Flexible working, Full-time, Job share, Part-time**Number of jobs available**:

- 13Contents

Location

About the job

**Benefits**:
Things you need to know

Location
- Birmingham, Bristol, Durham, Eastleigh, Exeter, Leicester, Manchester, Nottingham, Portsmouth, Preston, Reading, St Albans, Stoke-on-Trent, Swindon, WinchesterAbout the job

**Job summary**:
Are you a qualified lawyer with criminal law knowledge, legal expertise, and advocacy experience in the Crown Court?

The senior crown advocate position is one of our higher-level lawyer roles. You’re on the frontline conducting advocacy at jury trials for some of the most serious, sensitive and complex cases the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) prosecute - from manslaughter and murder to sexual offences and organised crime.

You work in high-pressure situations that are integral to the outcome of criminal proceedings. It’s essential that you’re able to communicate clearly in advising, preparing to prosecute and carrying out trial advocacy on cases - seeing your cases through from start to completion. You play a central role in securing justice for victims and witnesses of crime.

Hear from our crown advocates, The Crown Prosecution Service (cps.gov.uk)

This is a full-time post. However, requests for flexible, part-time working and job share will be considered, considering at all times the operational needs of the Department.

Please note excess fares will not apply.

Although based in one office, travel across the CPS Area to attend Court may be required.

**Job description**:
You work on serious criminal cases, advising and reviewing these for prosecution and you’re the lead or junior advocate. You work in the Crown Court conducting advocacy on trials, non-contested hearings and case management hearings whilst also carrying out some cases in the magistrates’ court. You also advise on investigations and undertake advocacy in the High Court and Court of Appeal.

Subject to satisfying the ’general qualification’ provision within the meaning of section 71 of the Courts and Legal Services Act 1990, you are designated by the Director of Public Prosecutions as a Crown Prosecutor under the terms of section 1 (3) of the Prosecution of Offences Act 1985.

Please see attached Job description for full details

**Person specification**:

- To analyse, review, prepare and prosecute a wide range of cases with up-to-date knowledge of criminal offences ranging from motoring to murder.
- To draft responses to parliamentary questions and to prepare high level oral and written briefings for the Director of Public Prosecutions and law officers.
- To lead and manage a prosecution team ensuring case deadlines and priorities are met.
- To build and maintain relationships with a wide range of people across the criminal justice system, communicating our decisions clearly and working with them effectively to ensure cases are effectively prosecuted.

**Qualifications**:

- Legally qualified: You must be a qualified practising solicitor or barrister with a valid Practising Certificate for England and Wales. You must be qualified to practise in the Crown Court under Bar Standards Board Regulations - or with higher rights (criminal advocacy) under the Solicitors Regulation Authority Higher Rights of Audience Regulations 2011.
- Academic: You must have a law degree, Common Professional Examination and/or Graduate Diploma in Law.
- Professional: You must have completed the Legal Practice Course or Bar Professional Training Course and the relevant pupillage and training contract - or have received full exemption from the relevant professional regulatory body, either the Solicitors Regulation Authority or the Bar Standards Board.
**Behaviours**:
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:

- Changing and Improving
- Communicating and Influencing
- Managing a Quality Service
- Making Effective Decisions

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

- Law Degree or Common Professional Examination.
- Legal Practice Course or Bar Vocational Course and have completed the relevant pupillage or Period of Recognised Training.
- Postholder must be qualified to practise in the Crown Court as a qualified barrister under BSB Regulations - or solicitor with Higher Rights (Criminal Advocacy) under the SRA Higher Rights of Audience Regulations 2011.
- Successful applicant must have a valid Practising Certificate for England and Wales or be eligible to obtain a valid practising certificate issued from either the Solicitors Regulation Authority or the Bar Standards Board.
- Motivation, Legal intellect and advocacy will also