Pupil barrister at the CPS

Tell us about yourself

I’m Theo and I’m a pupil barrister at the Crown Prosecution Service. I will become a crown advocate.

How is your Crown Prosecution Service training organised?

Pupillage with the Crown Prosecution Service is set up like any other pupillage, with a first six and a second six.

What did you do during your first six?

In my first six, I was shadowing almost every day, either in the magistrates’ court or the Crown Court. I also had the opportunity to do a secondment with chambers, where I shadowed defence counsel for two weeks.

And the second six?

In my second six, I was handling cases myself from the very start. I began with one or two cases a day, mostly plea and trial preparation hearings. More recently, I’ve been managing around four cases a day and, during that time, I’ve been able to have those cases allocated to me.

What appealed to you about the Crown Prosecution Service?

Having the support of being in employed practice, rather than self-employed, really stood out to me. It gave me an extra level of security so that I could focus on my own development and training.

Working on cases objectively and ensuring everything is done correctly is paramount to me and to the Crown Prosecution Service.

How would you describe your training?

I knew that the level of training I would receive at the Crown Prosecution Service would be second to none, and that is something I have truly benefitted from. Anything I need for day-to-day legal practice is already paid for and available to me.

I have ready access to resources such as Archbold, Westlaw, Blackstone’s and LexisNexis. The teamwork and support have been invaluable in my training, whether from my supervisor, line manager or even senior colleagues. No question is considered silly. I can ask anyone in the Crown Prosecution Service for help, and they are more than happy to help.

Any additional benefits?

Every pupil or staff member receives an individual learning account worth £350, which can be used to develop their own skills. The Civil Service pension is excellent, and you can accrue flexi leave if you have worked additional hours beyond your usual schedule.

What’s next?

I will be handling appeals against conviction in due course, and I already have a couple scheduled for quite serious offences. This experience is really setting me up well for eventually conducting jury trials.

At the end of my pupillage, I have a guaranteed job. The options are to work as either a crown advocate or a crown prosecutor. The crown advocate role is very advocacy-based and involves work in both the magistrates’ and Crown Court. Advocacy suits me best so I’ve opted for the crown advocate role. 

Are you an aspiring barrister with an interest in criminal law?