My background

I have worked at the Crown Prosecution Service since 2016, following a 10-year career in criminal defence. I was promoted to legal manager in 2020 and I’m currently in the Crown Court unit in the North East. I made the leap to prosecution work so that I could really make a difference in my local area. I also knew that the Crown Prosecution Service would enable me to reach my full potential in terms of my career.

My inspiration

My role is challenging and hugely rewarding. Everyone is dedicated to delivering justice for victims and witnesses and I’m privileged to work with skilled lawyers who really want to make a difference. I was inspired to apply for the legal manager role so that I could lead teams to deliver priorities and influence improvements in the criminal justice system. I take great pride in the work that we do at the Crown Prosecution Service, and the outcomes that we achieve by working together.

My typical day

No day is the same as a legal manager and every day is a school day! That’s what makes the role exciting – you never know what is going to land on your desk. Being able to prioritise, multitask and remain calm when under pressure is key.

My typical day involves checking new cases and allocating them to lawyers, in line with their skills and development needs. I identify urgent casework actions and make sure these are completed. I have meetings with the police about casework quality, which helps ensure timely legal decisions are made. We also discuss decision making on fatal road traffic cases. Working with the police is an enjoyable part of my role, as I meet officers who are equally as passionate about delivering justice

I speak to my team regularly to support them in making legal decisions and ensure they can carry out their role effectively. I enjoy mentoring them to help enhance their skillsets and develop their careers.

My biggest learning

In this role you never stop learning, whether that is from a legal perspective or when it comes to dealing with managerial issues. There is a huge amount of support available and the training is first class. We all work together as a team with the same aim, and you can always rely on your colleagues to assist when needed.