Senior Crown Prosecutor

Crown Prosecution Service; City of Westminster; Hybrid; GBP 50,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading legal agency in the UK seeks a Senior Crown Prosecutor to manage extradition cases at Westminster Magistrates Court. The role demands high advocacy and communication skills, with responsibilities including case preparation and stakeholder liaison. Ideal candidates hold a law degree and relevant legal qualifications, ensuring justice is upheld internationally. A competitive salary and benefits package are offered in a hybrid working environment.

Benefits

Civil Service contributory pension

25 days' leave, increasing to 30 days after 5 years

Personal development budget of £350

Flexible working hours

Employee savings scheme

Qualifications

• Must be a qualified practising solicitor or barrister holding a valid Practising Certificate for England and Wales.
• Post qualification experience required.

Responsibilities

• Prepare and present cases at Westminster Magistrates Court.
• Conduct final extradition hearings and respond to appeals.
• Draft responses for complaints and parliamentary correspondence.

Skills

Oral communication skills

Written communication skills

Analytical skills

Advocacy skills

Education

Law degree

Legal Practice Course

Tools

Microsoft Teams

Job description

The Extradition Unit provides a key resource across law enforcement and the Criminal Justice System as well liaising with stakeholders across government and internationally.
As a Senior Crown Prosecutor (SCP) within Extradition, you will help deliver justice internationally. Your work will be challenging and varied in nature and will involve a variety of tasks.
What does the role entail?
You prepare and present cases at Westminster Magistrates Court pursuant to the Extradition Act 2003, in relation to requests from Part 1 and Part 2 requesting countries. This includes conducting final extradition hearings on behalf of requesting judicial authorities in relation to Part 1 requests. In addition, you analyse, review, and prepare cases relating to Part 1 requests, including responding to applications for permission to appeal, and developing an up-to-date knowledge of UK extradition law.
You have a high-volume casework portfolio of Part 1 extradition cases. You may also assist Specialist Prosecutors on more complex cases.
Subject to the post-holder satisfying the "general qualification" provision within the meaning of section 71 of the Courts and Service Act 1990, the post is 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).
The Crown Prosecution Service is based in England and Wales. If you're applying for this role and live in Scotland or Northern Ireland, you must let us know when accepting this offer as you need permission to work from your home address if hybrid working is part of your role. There's no guarantee that we will grant this approval.
You must be aged 18 before starting in this role. The start date is expected to be 8-12 weeks after the application deadline.
We will be holding an information session via Microsoft Teams. This will be a live online chat where you can ask any questions you may have about your application, the recruitment process, or the role itself.
The session will take place on Tuesday 26th August 2025 at 17:00pm and you can join using the following link: Join the meeting now / Meeting ID: 378 568 672 925 7 / Passcode: tN7S47Dq, Your roles and responsibilities
+ Demonstrate high levels of advocacy and communication with stakeholders in relation to all cases for which they are accountable so as to maintain public and international confidence in the extradition process.
+ Demonstrate a high level of oral and written communication skills in all matters relating to the conduct of extradition cases, in particular the ability to distil and explain complexities to foreign jurisdictions.
+ Draft responses for complaints and parliamentary correspondence
+ Deal effectively and persuasively with a wide range of people, both within and outside the Service, as part of a multi-skilled team and on an individual basis in order to ensure effective and successful conduct of cases.
+ Analyse and review export extradition requests in accordance with the Extradition Act 2003; determining whether any bars to extradition apply; responding to defence challenges to extradition and advising requesting States upon the conduct of extradition proceedings and draft requests for further information.
+ Review files from CPS Areas in import extradition cases to determine their suitability for extradition.
+ Prepare instructions for counsel.
+ Post-holders will analyse, review, prepare and conduct proceedings in less complex export extradition requests in Westminster Magistrates' Court and the High Court; assisting Specialist
+ Prosecutors on more complex cases; and reviewing non- Part 1 import cases to determine their suitability for extradition.
+ Undertake advocacy in Westminster Magistrates' Court for at least two days a week in relation to all export extradition cases.
A copy of the full job description is available if requested from [e-mail]., We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
+ Making Effective Decisions
+ Communicating and Influencing
+ Delivering at Pace
+ Working Together, This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours, Strengths and Experience.
Recruitment process
The recruitment process consists of an online application, interview and assessment. Interviews are expected to take place on Wednesday 8th October 2025 at CPS London, 102 Petty France, London SW1H 9EA. Assessments will take place separately on Tuesday 23rd September 2025, also at CPS London.
A member of our recruitment team will be in touch with guidance. If you have any queries about this, contact [e-mail].
You should keep these dates free or notify us if you're not available. We'll make every effort to accommodate your date preferences but we can't guarantee it.
Assessment
We ask you to complete an assessment as part of the recruitment process for this role. On the day of your assessment, you will be provided with full instructions upon arrival.
Personal statement
We ask you to complete a personal statement of no more than 1,250 words. You need to address the core behaviours for this role, which are:
1. Making Effective Decisions
2. Communicating & Influencing
3. Delivering at Pace
You also need to demonstrate the following experience required for this role:
+ Post qualification experience
In addition, you need to demonstrate the Crown Prosecution Service or Civil Service values.
The panel has the right to assess the lead behaviour 'Making Effective Decision' first. If the standard on this behaviour isn't met, the other behaviours won't be considered and your application won't progress. The panel also has the right to raise the minimum standard pass mark. The panel may also refer to the lead behaviour at the interview stage to determine merit order.
Interview / Assessment
We use behaviours to help us understand your experience, to see if you're a good fit for the role. You are assessed against grade 7 in the Civil Service success profiles behaviours framework. We are assessing 4 behaviours at interview / assessment stage
1. Making Effective Decisions (Assessment & Interview)
2. Communicating & Influencing (Assessment & Interview)
3. Delivering at Pace (Interview)
4. Working Together (Interview)
You will also be tested against the essential experience 'post qualification experience' at interview and assessment.
CV
You're not required to upload your CV. However, when submitting your application there is a 'CV section'. You are required to provide information about your employment and/or academic history for the past three years, skills and qualification details. The CV section will be used as supporting evidence, it won't be assessed.
It's your responsibility to provide the specified information in the requested format to ensure that you're considered for the post.
If you're unable to cover three years through employment or academic history, you must provide a character reference for clearance purposes.
Strengths
Strengths are tested at interview stage - the strengths tested are not shared before the interview.
AI
Artificial Intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.
Clearance
If successful, you are required to secure a Security Clearance, for which you must have a current valid UK address.
If successfully appointed, we ask you to complete a character enquiry form, nationality and immigration questionnaire and national security vetting form.
If you're a Crown Prosecution Service member of staff, you won't need to do a Disclosure and Barring Service check as you already hold this clearance.
The job you're applying for is covered by Article 3(a) of the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975, consequently Section 4(2) of that Act doesn't apply. You're required to disclose all previous convictions and cautions including spent convictions. Failing to make a full declaration will result in withdrawing your offer of employment if our checks reveal convictions that haven't been disclosed.
To be cleared to Security Clearance level, you have to be able to meet the residency requirement in the Cabinet Office guidance. For the Crown Prosecution Service they are:
+ Security Clearance - three years within the last five years.
Reserve list
If you're recommended by the selection panel but not appointed to the current vacancy, you're put on a reserve list for 12 months. You may be offered another Senior Crown Prosecutor post in SEOCID - ILSED if a vacancy comes up during this period. We may also approach candidates on the waiting list to fill other roles that require similar knowledge and experience.
Feedback
We only provide feedback if you attend an interview or assessment.
Fraud check
The Crown Prosecution Service provides a Fair Processing Notice to all new applicants after they've been successful at interview. These candidates are informed that, as one aspect of pre-employment screening, their personal details - name, National Insurance number and date of birth - are checked against the Internal Fraud Database. We won't employ anyone included on the database unless they can demonstrate exceptional circumstances.
The Strategic Resourcing team in the Crown Prosecution Service will, on behalf of the vacancy holder, inform applicants when they are refused employment because of their inclusion in the Internal Fraud Database.
Current civil servants
As you're a current civil servant, if you are currently undergoing any of the following formal actions, your application won't be progressed any further.
+ formal discipline action
+ any formal action regarding attendance or poor performance
+ any restriction of duties as a result of disciplinary action
+ currently subject to probation.
Civil Service Commission
If you're dissatisfied with the recruitment process and wish to make a complaint, please contact [e-mail] with your concerns.
If you remain dissatisfied and wish to make a further complaint, please click on the following link to the Civil Service Commission complaints page https://civilservicecommission.independent.gov.uk/recruitment/civilservicerecruitmentcomplaints/
Civil Service Commission Recruitment Principles can be found at
https://civilservicecommission.independent.gov.uk/recruitment/
Details of the Civil Service Nationality Rules are located at:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/nationality-rules
Candidates are subject to UK immigration requirements. For the most up-to-date information on the requirements of working in the UK, please go to the UK Visas and Immigration website at https://www.gov.uk/browse/visas-immigration/work-visas
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security
Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.
Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is security check (opens in a new window).
See our vetting charter (opens in a new window).
People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Nationality requirements
This job is broadly open to the following groups:
+ UK nationals
+ nationals of the Republic of Ireland
+ nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
+ nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
+ nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
+ individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
+ Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service
Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)

Working for the Civil Service
The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.
We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window).
The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.
The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy.

Diversity and Inclusion
The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see the Civil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window).

+ Be a qualified practising solicitor or barrister holding a valid Practising Certificate for England and Wales, Legally qualified: You must be a qualified practising solicitor or barrister holding a valid Practising Certificate for England and Wales.
Academic: You must have a law degree, Common Professional Examination and/or Graduate Diploma in Law.
Professional: You must have completed a Legal Practice Course, Solicitors Qualifying Exam 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.
or
CILEx: You must be a Fellow of CILEx and a CILEx Advocate/Litigator holding all three advocacy certificates providing you with a 'general qualification' within the meaning of s.71 (3) (c) Courts and Legal Services Act 1990. You must have a right of audience in relation to any class of proceedings in any part of the Senior Courts, or all proceedings in county courts or magistrates' courts in order to meet the requirements for a Crown Prosecutor specified by section 1 Prosecution of Offences Act 1985. If you don't hold this CILEx qualification, you're not eligible to apply for this vacancy. If you're unsure whether you have qualified through CILEx, contact us to establish your eligibility for this role.
If you apply and are found not to possess any of the above, any offer of employment will be withdrawn, or contract terminated., You 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.
If CILEx qualified, must hold a 'general qualification' within the meaning of s.71 (3) (c) Courts and Legal Services Act 1990.

Join the Crown Prosecution Service and find your purpose.
The Crown Prosecution Service is passionate about ensuring that we're a top performing organisation and a great place to work. We're a committed equal opportunities employer, creating a culture where you can bring your whole self to work, and individuality is truly appreciated.
This culture of inclusion is underpinned by our staff networks covering disability, faith and belief, LGBTQI+, race, social mobility alongside our mental health first aiders programme and wellbeing sessions.
The Crown Prosecution Service commits to offer its employees the following experience.
+ You can do impactful, purposeful work that's making a difference to your local communities.
+ You are able to learn and grow, with access to the right opportunities and resources.
+ We care about your wellbeing.
+ We want you to feel valued, trusted and included.
We also offer the following range of benefits:
+ Civil Service contributory pension of up to 28.9%
+ 25 days' leave, increasing to 30 days after 5 years
+ £350 each year to spend on personal development
+ lawyer training programme for all new prosecutors
+ an extra privilege day to mark the King's birthday
+ competitive maternity, paternity and parental leave
+ flexible working including flexitime, and a family friendly approach to work
+ Cycle2Work scheme, employee savings.
Diversity at the Crown Prosecution Service is about inclusion, embracing differences and ensuring our workforce truly reflects the communities we serve. We want you to feel that you belong and can thrive, whatever your background, identity or culture. As a Disability Confident employer, we're happy to support requests for reasonable adjustments and improve your recruitment experience. If you'd like any reasonable adjustments made to our recruitment process, let us know within your application or contact [e-mail].
We want to ensure our employees can thrive at work and home and offer a range of support to achieve a balance. This includes flexibility of working hours, flexibility to support caring responsibilities and a flexible approach to deployment. We offer a hybrid working policy. You must spend at least 40% of your contracted hours over a four-week period at court, in an office or another official workplace depending on business need and the kind of work you're doing.

Alongside your salary of £59,660, Crown Prosecution Service contributes £17,283 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.