My name is Maisha and I am a newly qualified Crown Prosecutor. Prior to joining the Crown Prosecution Service, my background was in defence. There were two things I wanted from the start: first, to qualify as a solicitor – that was my main goal – and second, to join the Crown Prosecution Service for my training contract because they have such a good reputation for their training.

Coming from the defence side, I wanted to see the other side and understand how it worked, specifically within the Crown Prosecution Service. It was quite interesting because I didn’t really know what to expect beforehand. From the beginning, we’re told that you are the driver of your training contract, and that is exactly what it is. I asked myself what I was interested in and what I wanted my career to progress into, and I chose those areas.

I did magistrates’ court because when we qualify, we become Crown Prosecutors and act as advocates in the magistrates’ court. There is no typical day. One day you can be reviewing a serious rape case, and the next day you could be reviewing a kidnap. It’s really varied and really different, but that’s what makes it so interesting.

I think the number one benefit of doing a training contract with the Crown Prosecution Service, and something I didn’t realise until I started, is the secondment. Being able to do your secondment elsewhere, even though I still stayed within the Civil Service, gives you different exposure that really helps when you come back.

When I returned from my secondment, I learned something new about myself: I really enjoy doing research, and I like working in very new areas of law that I didn’t study at university or have previous exposure to. After coming back, I actually went to Proceeds of Crime, which was a completely new area for me. My trainee supervisor and I got along so well, and I cannot fault him. I was very lucky to have someone so supportive, especially someone who understood exactly what I wanted.

I learn best by being thrown into the middle of things, and I like being right in the centre of it, trying to understand it. And he allowed me to do that.

On the day your training contract finishes, you become a Crown Prosecutor. You don’t have to apply separately or go through another interview process. Once you finish your training contract, that job security is there. It takes the stress away, and when you reach the end, you’re just excited. After all that work, you’re finally a qualified solicitor.

All that hard work, all the university work – it’s such an accomplishment on the day you become a Crown Prosecutor.