*/
A career at the Crown Prosecution Service – insight from Siobhan Blake and Ibrahim Ilyas
If you have a strong sense of public service, a passion for justice and a desire to work in criminal law then the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) offers a varied and satisfying career. As a pupil barrister you will benefit from excellent training and a structured pupillage which will prepare you to advise upon and prosecute the widest range of criminal offences. As a national organisation the CPS offers pupillages throughout England and Wales and wants to recruit the most talented criminal lawyers of the future. The service is looking for lawyers who have an enthusiasm for advocacy and the ability to work with a diverse cross section of our community.
As a Crown Prosecutor you will be working in a fast paced and challenging environment. No two days are the same. Much of your time early in your career will be spent undertaking advocacy, working in the courts prosecuting cases and meeting victims and witnesses. This will call on your excellent legal knowledge, your ability to make clear and evidence-based decisions on complex issues and your ability to support and assist a diverse range of people navigating the criminal justice system.
Given the remit of the CPS and the career paths available you will have many opportunities to develop specialisms within criminal law. These include contributing to building criminal cases, advising the police at the earliest stages of a criminal investigation, through to prosecuting jury trials.
The variation of casework and roles within the CPS provides many areas of specialism, including the prosecution of rape and serious sexual offences, international crime, fraud and counter terrorism. The work is endlessly rewarding and provides those of us who are Crown Prosecutors with the huge privilege of playing our part in the administration of justice and making our communities safer for us all.
The application process can be challenging but, with sufficient preparation, one should feel ready to present themselves in the best way possible. I have learnt that shaping one’s experiences through the lens of the Civil Service behaviours and strengths in the STAR format ensures that you are meeting the relevant criteria and presenting examples in a coherent manner. Before attempting the online tests, I found the official Civil Service practice tests very helpful. For the video interview, read the video interview pack carefully and think about the kinds of questions that you’re likely to be asked and how you’d respond under time pressure. For the final interview, I took time to research the topic given beforehand thoroughly to ensure that I was ready to respond to whatever question(s) would arise in the presentation part of the interview.
If you don’t have criminal experience that is no disadvantage. Many prosecutors hail from non-criminal backgrounds so if you can demonstrate transferable skills and how these have impacted your development as an aspiring lawyer, this will be beneficial.
Why the CPS? Showing a keen interest in criminal law – specifically the CPS – will enable assessors to better understand the reasons why you’re applying. It is no secret that aspiring lawyers apply to a range of firms but make an effort to stand out. What makes you different? What skills and abilities have you honed as a result of experiences both in and out of law?
Research the CPS thoroughly. The website is a comprehensive resource so you may use that as a starting point. Think about what motivates you in regard to the kinds of cases that the CPS deals with. Showing your passion for the service and the values that you might share will stand you in good stead.
Finally, be yourself!
As part of its legal trainee scheme, the Crown Prosecution Service offers a bilingual (English and Welsh speaking) pathway for pupil barristers. CPS legal trainee Eurgain talks about it in this YouTube video.
Siobhan Blake is the Chief Crown Prosecutor for CPS West Midlands and the CPS National Lead on Rape and Serious Sexual Offences.
If you have a strong sense of public service, a passion for justice and a desire to work in criminal law then the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) offers a varied and satisfying career. As a pupil barrister you will benefit from excellent training and a structured pupillage which will prepare you to advise upon and prosecute the widest range of criminal offences. As a national organisation the CPS offers pupillages throughout England and Wales and wants to recruit the most talented criminal lawyers of the future. The service is looking for lawyers who have an enthusiasm for advocacy and the ability to work with a diverse cross section of our community.
As a Crown Prosecutor you will be working in a fast paced and challenging environment. No two days are the same. Much of your time early in your career will be spent undertaking advocacy, working in the courts prosecuting cases and meeting victims and witnesses. This will call on your excellent legal knowledge, your ability to make clear and evidence-based decisions on complex issues and your ability to support and assist a diverse range of people navigating the criminal justice system.
Given the remit of the CPS and the career paths available you will have many opportunities to develop specialisms within criminal law. These include contributing to building criminal cases, advising the police at the earliest stages of a criminal investigation, through to prosecuting jury trials.
The variation of casework and roles within the CPS provides many areas of specialism, including the prosecution of rape and serious sexual offences, international crime, fraud and counter terrorism. The work is endlessly rewarding and provides those of us who are Crown Prosecutors with the huge privilege of playing our part in the administration of justice and making our communities safer for us all.
The application process can be challenging but, with sufficient preparation, one should feel ready to present themselves in the best way possible. I have learnt that shaping one’s experiences through the lens of the Civil Service behaviours and strengths in the STAR format ensures that you are meeting the relevant criteria and presenting examples in a coherent manner. Before attempting the online tests, I found the official Civil Service practice tests very helpful. For the video interview, read the video interview pack carefully and think about the kinds of questions that you’re likely to be asked and how you’d respond under time pressure. For the final interview, I took time to research the topic given beforehand thoroughly to ensure that I was ready to respond to whatever question(s) would arise in the presentation part of the interview.
If you don’t have criminal experience that is no disadvantage. Many prosecutors hail from non-criminal backgrounds so if you can demonstrate transferable skills and how these have impacted your development as an aspiring lawyer, this will be beneficial.
Why the CPS? Showing a keen interest in criminal law – specifically the CPS – will enable assessors to better understand the reasons why you’re applying. It is no secret that aspiring lawyers apply to a range of firms but make an effort to stand out. What makes you different? What skills and abilities have you honed as a result of experiences both in and out of law?
Research the CPS thoroughly. The website is a comprehensive resource so you may use that as a starting point. Think about what motivates you in regard to the kinds of cases that the CPS deals with. Showing your passion for the service and the values that you might share will stand you in good stead.
Finally, be yourself!
As part of its legal trainee scheme, the Crown Prosecution Service offers a bilingual (English and Welsh speaking) pathway for pupil barristers. CPS legal trainee Eurgain talks about it in this YouTube video.
A career at the Crown Prosecution Service – insight from Siobhan Blake and Ibrahim Ilyas
The Chair of the Bar reports back
Susie Griffin on the admin that keeps barristers from billable work
Clement Cowley, Partner at The Penny Group, explains how global events can influence the performance of pensions and ISAs, and why taking a long-term approach to investing is often the most effective strategy
Mário Barroso, Head of R&D and Method Development at AlphaBiolabs, discusses what family law professionals need to know about hallucinogens, from the main hallucinogenic drugs encountered in family proceedings, to their effects and the testing options available
Harmony Christian Ministries is the latest charity to benefit from a £500 donation from AlphaBiolabs via the company’s Giving Back initiative
By David Green
At the start of her term, Chair of the Bar 2026 Kirsty Brimelow KC set out a series of priorities for the year ahead. One of those priorities was children in the justice system
As the world becomes more digital, Barbara Vinagre Mota examines international research into the mental health consequences of judges’ exposure to graphic and immersive evidence, highlighting the importance of support systems
In an era of patient-centred care and growing concern over misconduct in medical settings, why do women still lack the right to choose women consultants for examination and treatment? Charles Davey investigates
Reviewed by Daniel Barnett
James McNeill Whistler at Tate Britain until 27 September Rothko in Florence at Palazzo Strozzi until 23 August Reviewed by Stephen Cragg KC
