Meet our paralegal assistants

Sania

'Working here has given me a lot of opportunities. I get to work with paralegal colleagues, lawyers, court staff and the police. I've increased my knowledge of the criminal justice system, which will help my career progress.'

My background

I graduated with a political science degree and I'm looking to do a law conversion course. I wanted to gain some legal work experience first and pursue my passion for providing justice for victims. My aim is to qualify as a lawyer and become a crown prosecutor.

I joined the Crown Prosecution Service in 2022 - the paralegal assistant position has been a great introduction to the legal profession. As the role is mainly court-based, I am assisting prosecutors, police officers and witness services. It's been a very exciting and encouraging experience for me.

My typical day

I work within the Crown Court and ensure prosecution counsel is fully prepared for their day in court. My typical day involves communicating with lawyers and management, police officers and other stakeholders.

When helping to prepare for trials, it's my responsibility to ensure that all the paperwork needed by the jury is prepared on time. On the day of trial, I meet with witnesses to explain the court process and what to expect when giving evidence.

My tasks range from updating correspondence from the police, recording court outcomes, to making sure all casefile information is recorded accurately. I really enjoy the work.

My inspiration

This role has been invaluable in increasing my practical knowledge of prosecuting. And it's been very useful for my legal development - working closely with lawyers in court and seeing the legal dilemmas that come up.

This has helped me decide to become a prosecutor and has shown me how I can get there. I've learned about the responsibilities of stakeholders across the criminal justice system, and gained an understanding of the progression of cases from a charging decision right through to sentencing.

My biggest learning

I have developed lots of skills whilst working within the Crown Prosecution Service, and I've built my understanding of criminal law. I've also improved my communication and listening skills by working with colleagues and other people in court. It's so rewarding to be part of a team that supports each other and works together to ensure we get the best possible outcome in each case.

I definitely recommend anyone to apply for the role. I've been able to grow my career, and I've had opportunities to build my knowledge and experience in areas of work I hadn't considered before - such as deputising as a manager.

Being a paralegal assistant is a great introduction to the Crown Prosecution Service and the public sector, and there are plenty of opportunities for progression.