Crown Advocate Level 3

The Crown Advocate Level 3 is a vital role within the Crown Prosecution Service where you prosecute a wide range of cases in the Crown Court including rape and serious sexual offences (RASSO) trials and multi-handed cases.

You provide early input on cases and you’re an integral part of the prosecution team working alongside lawyers, paralegal officers and our police colleagues.

The primary responsibility and function of this role is trial advocacy in the Crown Court, including advocacy in effective trials and non-contested hearings.

Expectations of a Crown Advocate Level 3:

• Undertake any of the work of a Level 2 advocate
• Work on jury trials in more serious and onerous prosecutions including fraud (non-SEOCID cases), serious assaults (Section 18), complex robberies, driving offences involving death, trials involving child victims and witnesses, video link cases and multi-handed prosecutions of up to four defendants.
• Conduct straightforward appeals in the Divisional Court and Court of Appeal
• Demonstrate expert up-to-date legal knowledge relevant to such prosecutions and appropriate standards of oral and written advocacy.
• Have sufficient knowledge of the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 to be able to deal with the confiscation issues raised in Level 3 prosecutions.
• Prosecute jury trials, which can include cases relating to child abuse, rape, indecency, and other RASSO offences.
• Have or obtain RASSO accreditation accordingly.

Qualifications:

• Legally qualified: You must be a qualified practising solicitor or barrister and hold a valid Practising Certificate for England and Wales.
• Professional: You must have completed a Legal Practice Course or Bar Professional Training Course and have 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).
• You must be qualified to practise in the Crown Court as a qualified barrister under Bar Standards Board Regulations – or solicitor with Higher Rights (Criminal Advocacy) under the Solicitors Regulation Authority Higher Rights of Audience Regulations 2011.

Behaviours:

• Communicating and Influencing
• Delivering at Pace
• Working Together

Technical skills:

• Motivation, legal intellect and advocacy
• Experience of criminal advocacy in the crown court.

Benefits:

• Salary of £69,250 - £80,710 per year
• Civil Service contributory pension of up to 28.9%
• 25 days’ leave, increasing to 30 days after 5 years
• An extra privilege day to mark the King's birthday
• Competitive maternity, paternity and parental leave
• Flexible working and a family-friendly approach to work
• A Cycle2Work scheme, employee savings
• A range of learning and development activities, an individual learning account, and central and local development opportunities.