*/
What's it like being a legal trainee at the Crown Prosecution Service? Amy describes what drew her to the role, the skills required and a typical day in the life
I noticed on LinkedIn that the Crown Prosecution Service was recruiting for legal trainees. At the time, I didn't really know much about the organisation – but the more I looked into it and the further along the application process I got, the more excited I became. There are some obvious benefits of being an employee – a guaranteed job at the end of training and job security really appealed to me. I can also train as a solicitor and still have a court-based advocacy career at the end of it.
The trainee scheme is structured in a way that offers great flexibility, to ensure that you're equipped with the skills and knowledge to become a really good crown prosecutor. You receive excellent in-house training to support this and your ongoing career development. But the highlight for me is that there isn't a definitive day in the life of a legal trainee. Every day is different and this makes the training exciting and interesting. One day I may be observing in the Magistrates’ Court and the next I might be in the Crown Court. I also spend some time reviewing charging decisions, drafting court applications and doing legal research.
One of the important things I’ve found as a trainee is the great support from all the staff that I meet, from my supervisor and line manager to prosecutors and administrators. Despite being really busy, they all go out of their way to answer any questions or point me in the right direction. Another huge benefit is that there are so many other trainees based all around England and Wales who started at roughly the same time as I did. We have a group chat that's very supportive, and it's nice to meet some of these people face to face.
Before I joined the Crown Prosecution Service, I hadn't realised that there are lots of different career paths available, and I could take whichever one I felt suited me and fitted in with my career plan. I feel really privileged to have this opportunity in front of me. I'm not sure which path to go down yet, but I'm certainly looking forward to the journey. If you have an interest in criminal law, advocacy and justice, and are thinking about applying for the legal trainee scheme, my advice would be just to go for it. You won't regret it. It's a fantastic opportunity and I wish you lots of luck.
Amy is a Crown Prosecution Service legal trainee.
You can find out more about the national legal trainee schemes currently recruiting below. If you are a Welsh speaker, we have a recommended bilingual route. Applications close on 6 February 2025.
National Legal Trainee Scheme - Barrister - January 2025 (October 2026 start)
National Legal Trainee Scheme - Solicitor - January 2025 (October 2026 start)
I noticed on LinkedIn that the Crown Prosecution Service was recruiting for legal trainees. At the time, I didn't really know much about the organisation – but the more I looked into it and the further along the application process I got, the more excited I became. There are some obvious benefits of being an employee – a guaranteed job at the end of training and job security really appealed to me. I can also train as a solicitor and still have a court-based advocacy career at the end of it.
The trainee scheme is structured in a way that offers great flexibility, to ensure that you're equipped with the skills and knowledge to become a really good crown prosecutor. You receive excellent in-house training to support this and your ongoing career development. But the highlight for me is that there isn't a definitive day in the life of a legal trainee. Every day is different and this makes the training exciting and interesting. One day I may be observing in the Magistrates’ Court and the next I might be in the Crown Court. I also spend some time reviewing charging decisions, drafting court applications and doing legal research.
One of the important things I’ve found as a trainee is the great support from all the staff that I meet, from my supervisor and line manager to prosecutors and administrators. Despite being really busy, they all go out of their way to answer any questions or point me in the right direction. Another huge benefit is that there are so many other trainees based all around England and Wales who started at roughly the same time as I did. We have a group chat that's very supportive, and it's nice to meet some of these people face to face.
Before I joined the Crown Prosecution Service, I hadn't realised that there are lots of different career paths available, and I could take whichever one I felt suited me and fitted in with my career plan. I feel really privileged to have this opportunity in front of me. I'm not sure which path to go down yet, but I'm certainly looking forward to the journey. If you have an interest in criminal law, advocacy and justice, and are thinking about applying for the legal trainee scheme, my advice would be just to go for it. You won't regret it. It's a fantastic opportunity and I wish you lots of luck.
Amy is a Crown Prosecution Service legal trainee.
You can find out more about the national legal trainee schemes currently recruiting below. If you are a Welsh speaker, we have a recommended bilingual route. Applications close on 6 February 2025.
National Legal Trainee Scheme - Barrister - January 2025 (October 2026 start)
National Legal Trainee Scheme - Solicitor - January 2025 (October 2026 start)
What's it like being a legal trainee at the Crown Prosecution Service? Amy describes what drew her to the role, the skills required and a typical day in the life
Now is the time to tackle inappropriate behaviour at the Bar as well as extend our reach and collaboration with organisations and individuals at home and abroad
A comparison – Dan Monaghan, Head of DWF Chambers, invites two viewpoints
And if not, why not? asks Louise Crush of Westgate Wealth Management
Marie Law, Head of Toxicology at AlphaBiolabs, discusses the many benefits of oral fluid drug testing for child welfare and protection matters
To mark International Women’s Day, Louise Crush of Westgate Wealth Management looks at how financial planning can help bridge the gap
Casey Randall of AlphaBiolabs answers some of the most common questions regarding relationship DNA testing for court
Maria Scotland and Niamh Wilkie report from the Bar Council’s 2024 visit to the United Arab Emirates exploring practice development opportunities for the England and Wales family Bar
Marking Neurodiversity Week 2025, an anonymous barrister shares the revelations and emotions from a mid-career diagnosis with a view to encouraging others to find out more
David Wurtzel analyses the outcome of the 2024 silk competition and how it compares with previous years, revealing some striking trends and home truths for the profession
Save for some high-flyers and those who can become commercial arbitrators, it is generally a question of all or nothing but that does not mean moving from hero to zero, says Andrew Hillier
