Summary

There are three posts available, one permanent post and two temporary posts (one up to 6 months and one up to 12 months); candidates will be asked to stipulate their interest in posts and offers will be made in merit order based on preference of post.

Please note in relation to the temporary posts, one will be up to 6 months but may be shorter and one for up to 12 months but may be shorter. In the event that the temporary posts go beyond 12 months they would not exceed 24 months.

The induction period for new SCPs will be six to nine weeks. During this period, the expectation will be for successful candidates to work from our office in Petty France or at Westminster Magistrates Court (subject to the current working arrangements around Covid 19).

Candidate must have the below essential experience;

Post qualification experience.

Candidates must also have the below essential technical skills;

Law Degree or Common Professional Examination.

Legal Practice Course or Bar Vocational Course and Have completed the relevant pupillage.

Qualified Barrister or Solicitor.

For further information on how to apply, please see the Candidate Pack at the bottom of this page.

Please note excess fares will not apply.

Job description

To 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, the post-holder will 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. The post-holder will have a high volume casework portfolio of Part 1 extradition cases. Post-holders 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).
 

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.

Qualifications

Legally Qualified: The post holder must be a qualified practising solicitor or barrister and must hold a valid Practising Certificate for England and Wales.

Academic: Law degree, Common Professional Examination, Graduate Diploma in Law.

Professional: Legal Practice Course or Bar Professional Training Course and have completed 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

If you have qualified through Cilex could you please contact us in order 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.

Please note the qualification as stated is required for this role and equivalent qualifications will not be accepted.

If you are unsure about your eligibility please contact Cara.Thomas@cps.gov.uk

Memberships

The successful applicant 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.

Behaviours

We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:

• Making Effective Decisions
• Communicating and Influencing
• Working Together
• Delivering at Pace

Technical skills

We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:

• Law Degree or Common Professional Examination.
• Legal Practice Course or Bar Vocational Course and Have completed the relevant pupillage.
• Qualified Barrister or Solicitor.

Benefits

Employee Wellbeing Support, such as Mental Health First Aiders & Allies, Free Health Checks, Workplace Wellness Courses, and Healthcare access
• Volunteering Leave
• Cycle2Work scheme, Bike, Parking and Season Ticket Loans
• Access to CPS Reward Schemes
• Flexible Working and a family friendly approach to work
• Childcare vouchers outside and in addition to Government Tax Free Childcare Scheme
• 25 days annual leave, plus bank holidays and 1 privilege day
• Civil Service Pension

Working for the Crown Prosecution Service you will also gain access to a range of learning and development activities, including through Civil Service Learning and an individual learning account in addition to any central and local development opportunities and requirements.

This is a full-time post. However, requests for flexible, part-time working and job share will be considered, considering at all times the operational needs of the Department.

Candidates who are recommended by the selection panel but not appointed to the current vacancy will be placed on a waiting list for 12 months and may be offered another post, should any further vacancies for a Senior Crown Prosecutor arise in the CPS International Justice and Organised Crime (Extradition) Division during this period. CPS may also approach candidates on the waiting list to fill other CPS International Justice and Organised Crime (Extradition) Division roles requiring similar knowledge and experience.

Things you need to know Security

Successful candidates must pass a disclosure and barring security check.

Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is security check.

See our vetting charter.

People working with government assets must complete basic personnel security standard checks.

Selection process details

This vacancy is using Success Profiles, and will assess your Behaviours, Strengths, Experience and Technical skills.

The recruitment process will consist of an online application, interview and assessment which will be held on the either the 6th or 12th of July 2021.

You should keep these dates free or notify us if you are not available. We will make every effort to accommodate you in your preference for dates; however we cannot guarantee that they will be met.

Due to the current Covid-19 situation, your interview may also be conducted via Video/Telephone. Where possible interviews will be conducted face to face, however until restrictions are lifted we will be utilising video technology in order to allow interviews to continue. If your interview will be taking place via video, a member of our recruitment team will be in touch with further guidance. If you have any queries about this please contact the CPS Recruitment Team at Strategic.Resourcing@cps.gov.uk.

The successful applicant will be required to secure DBS & SC clearance; to speed up this process; you should bring 3 forms of ID with you on the day of interview. Data gathered from unsuccessful candidates will be destroyed in accordance with our Data Retention Policy.

If successful in obtaining an interview you will be asked to complete the Character Enquiry Form, Nationality and Immigration Questionnaire & National Security Vetting Form.

(If you are an internal member of staff, you will not be required to undergo this DBS check as you will already hold this clearance).

Personal Statement (using the text box provided online)

You will also be asked to complete a personal statement of no more than 1250 words setting out how you consider your personal skills, qualities and experience, match the requirements as detailed in the Candidate Pack. You will also need to address the core behaviours for this role, detailed in the Behaviours Section of the Candidate Pack, which are;

1. Making Effective Decisions
2. Communicating and Influencing
3. Delivering at Pace

In addition, you will need to demonstrate the following experience/technical skills required for this role, detailed in the Experience/Technical Section of the Candidate Pack, which are:

Post qualification experience.

Law Degree or Common Professional Examination.

Legal Practice Course or Bar Vocational Course and Have completed the relevant pupillage.

Qualified Barrister or Solicitor.

In addition you will need to demonstrate the CPS or Civil Service Values.

CV Section (using the text boxes provided online)

You will not be required to upload your CV however, when submitting your application there is a ‘CV section.’ You will be required to provide information regarding your skills, employment history and qualification details.

Please note that it is the candidate’s responsibility to provide the specified application information in the requested format to ensure that they are considered for the post.

Civil Service Commissioners

From April 2018, the CPS will provide a Fair Processing Notice (FPN) to all new applicants after they have been successful at interview. These candidates will be informed that, as one aspect of pre-employment screening, their personal details – name, National Insurance Number and date of birth - will be checked against the Internal Fraud Database (IFD) and that anyone included on the IFD will be refused employment unless they can demonstrate exceptional circumstances.

The Strategic Resourcing team in the CPS will, on behalf of the vacancy holder, inform applicants when they are refused employment because of their inclusion in the IFD.

Feedback will not be provided until the vacancy is complete

If you are dissatisfied with the recruitment process and wish to make a complaint, please contact Strategic.Resourcing@cps.gov.uk with your concerns.

If you remain dissatisfied and wish to make a further complaint, please click on the following link to the Civil Service Commissioners complaints page https://civilservicecommission.independent.gov.uk/recruitment/civilservicerecruitmentcomplaints/

Civil Service Commissioners Recruitment Principles can be found here –
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 will be 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: https://www.gov.uk/browse/visas-immigration/work-visas

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Nationality requirements

This job is broadly open to the following groups:

• UK nationals
• nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
• nationals of the Republic of Ireland
• nationals from the EU, EEA or Switzerland with (or eligible for) status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• relevant EU, EEA, Swiss or Turkish nationals working in the Civil Service
• relevant EU, EEA, Swiss or Turkish nationals who have built up the right to work in the Civil Service
• certain family members of the relevant EU, EEA, Swiss or Turkish nationals

Further information on nationality requirements

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code 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.

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.

Apply and further information

Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.

Contact point for applicants Job contact : Name :   Cara Thomas Email :   Cara.Thomas@cps.gov.uk Telephone :   01512135099   Recruitment team : Email :   strategic.resourcing@cps.gov.uk Attachments Candidate Pack - CASD2514_ Opens in new window(pdf, 409kB) Personal Statement Guidance Opens in new window(docx, 139kB) New CPS Terms and Conditions Opens in new window(pdf, 717kB)