CPS Trainee Numbers Expansion: Crown Prosecution Service Boosts Intake by 50%

• The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) will increase its trainee solicitor intake by 50% this year.
• The move aims to develop the CPS's own pipeline of lawyers and address the service's struggles to attract experienced professionals.
• CPS trainees earn around £34,000 in London during their two-year training contract, rising to approximately £50,000 on qualification.

While they will not earn as much as others who go to work in the City, these are the compensating factors that keep them with us, often for an entire career.

The Crown Prosecution Service's (CPS) decision to increase its trainee solicitor intake by 50% may indicate a growing need for qualified lawyers in public prosecutions. According to Stephen Parkinson, director of public prosecutions and head of the CPS, the service struggles to attract experienced lawyers due to the significant pay disparity between City law firms and the CPS. While top Magic Circle, US, and international firms can offer up to £150,000 per year to newly qualified lawyers, CPS trainees earn around £34,000 in London during their two-year training contract, rising to approximately £50,000 on qualification. This pay gap has led Parkinson to argue that the CPS must develop its own pipeline of lawyers rather than relying on external recruitment.

Parkinson's assertion that experienced lawyers are often deterred by the CPS's lower salaries is supported by the service's own struggles to recruit qualified professionals. The CPS has a significant backlog of cases, with over 80,000 cases pending in the Crown Court alone. This has led to delays and increased pressure on the service to find ways to manage its workload effectively. By expanding its trainee intake, the CPS aims to build a more sustainable workforce that can meet the demands of public prosecutions.

Despite the lower salaries, working with the CPS offers several benefits for young lawyers. As Parkinson notes, trainees are entrusted with responsibility at an early stage in their careers and have the opportunity to work on cases that have a significant impact on society. Additionally, the CPS provides a proportionately excellent pension scheme, which is often a major consideration for lawyers looking to establish long-term career prospects. Furthermore, working with the CPS can provide a valuable stepping stone into private practice, particularly for those interested in specializing in public prosecutions.

Lawyers should note that the Crown Prosecution Service's increased intake of trainee solicitors may indicate a growing need for qualified lawyers in public prosecutions, potentially creating new career opportunities and a chance to be 'entrusted with responsibility at an early stage' as Parkinson emphasizes.

Source: Original reporting via Briefly