Crown prosecutor

Career path and progression

With experience and further training you could progress to senior crown prosecutor.

From there you could become crown advocate, senior crown advocate and principal crown advocate.

What it takes

Skills and knowledge

You'll need:

• legal knowledge including court procedures and government regulations
• excellent verbal communication skills
• active listening skills
• excellent written communication skills
• analytical thinking skills
• the ability to read English
• to be thorough and pay attention to detail
• the ability to think clearly using logic and reasoning
• to be able to use a computer and the main software packages confidently

Restrictions and Requirements

You'll need to:

• pass security checks
• pass enhanced background checks

Related subjects

Most relevant

• Law - Crown prosecutors work at the heart of the legal system, deciding whether cases should go to court and presenting evidence before judges and juries. They need a deep understanding of criminal law, court procedures, and the rules of evidence to build strong prosecution cases.
• English Language - Crown prosecutors must communicate complex legal arguments clearly, both in writing and when speaking in court. They draft case summaries, question witnesses, and sum up cases for juries – all of which require precise, persuasive use of language.

Also relevant

• Politics - Crown prosecutors work within the criminal justice system, which is shaped by government policy, legislation, and public institutions. Understanding how laws are made, how the state operates, and how political decisions affect the justice system gives useful context for this role.
• Psychology - Crown prosecutors assess the credibility of witnesses and the behaviour of defendants when building cases. Understanding how people think, why they act in certain ways, and how memory and perception work can help when questioning witnesses and evaluating evidence.
• Sociology - Crown prosecutors deal with crime and its impact on communities, and need to understand the social factors that can influence criminal behaviour. Sociology provides insight into issues like inequality, social norms, and how the justice system affects different groups in society.
• Mathematics - Crown prosecutors sometimes work with statistical evidence, financial records, or data analysis when building cases – particularly in fraud or complex crime. Logical reasoning and the ability to interpret numerical information help when assessing whether evidence is strong enough to prosecute.
• Philosophy - Crown prosecutors regularly use logical reasoning and ethical judgement when deciding whether prosecution is in the public interest. Philosophy develops skills in constructing and evaluating arguments, which is directly useful when presenting a case or challenging the defence's position.