A day in the life of a Casework Assistant

A typical day as a casework assistant

I’ve worked at the Crown Prosecution Service for two years. I’m based in Leeds. I tend to work in the office twice a week and spend the rest of the week working at home. 

9am 

On a typical office day, the first thing I do is make myself a cup of coffee. If I fancy a treat, I’ll get myself a caramel latte and a bagel. I’ll then open my laptop and get started checking emails. The mornings in Operational Delivery Unit (ODU) are always busy. We have a rota for remands, which is dealing with any overnight arrests from CPS Direct - our out of hours service. It’s very fast-paced.

Once I’ve finished the remands, I’ll start on my day-to-day tasks. This includes bundling case files, making sure everything is ready for our prosecutors for trial and preparing courtroom numbers - allocating cases to specific rooms. My job is to make sure all the paperwork is ready for court and to chase anything that’s missing. 

In my role, I work closely with the police and His Majesty's Courts and Tribunals Service to make sure everyone has what they need at the right time. Court starts at 10am so if a prosecutor gets to court and is missing some paperwork they need for trial, I’ll be the one to chase that up.  

12:30pm

When my morning tasks are complete, I’ll take my lunch break. I like to go for a walk to get some fresh air and will often have a look around the shops. I also enjoy going for lunch with colleagues – we like to try a new cuisine each time we go for lunch.

I joined the Crown Prosecution Service because I’ve always wanted to be a solicitor. I studied criminology at university and after that, worked for an organisation supporting victims of human trafficking and sexual abuse. Working face-to-face with victims made me want to do more to deliver justice by working to prosecute the perpetrators of these crimes. 

When I first saw this job, I didn’t realise that it could lead to a solicitor role. There are so many different opportunities in operational delivery – not just becoming a solicitor. For me, I like that you learn on the job and get to experience going to court, understanding the impact your work has in helping prosecutors to deliver justice. I was lucky enough to observe one of my cases through from start to finish in court. When the defendant was convicted, I had such a sense of achievement knowing I’d played a role in delivering justice. 

In the role I do, I am fortunate to work with solicitors who have given me plenty of advice. One of the best things about the Operational Delivery Unit is the different programmes you can join to learn about and help progress your career. I chose the Paralegal Officer programme which lasts a year. Every week, I shadowed a Paralegal Officer who is also acting as mentor to me. This has helped me better understand the role, and I’ve been getting to visit court more frequently. I’ve since joined the solicitor apprenticeship programme and the Paralegal Officer experience helps towards that. By the end of the apprenticeship, I’ll be a qualified solicitor and then I can start working as a Crown Prosecutor. 

It can be challenging studying and working at the same time but my manager is very supportive in helping me balance work and study. I am really enjoying my studies and I’m excited to learn more about criminal law as that’s the field I plan to specialise in. 

2pm 

In the afternoons I’ll do a lot of preparation for the next day – making sure I have everything I need to prepare bundles.

 It’s also a time to chat to the team. We’re a tight-knit group in the ODU and I really value friendships and support. We have regular all-staff Teams calls and we have an ODU call once a week. We also have team huddles for special occasions. People will bring in food - we have so many different cultures so we get to try lots of tasty things.  

5pm 

At the end of the day, I pack up and head off home. I usually go to the gym after work or head to a Pilates class. On Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays I have university classes 6pm-8pm and then on Fridays and I’ll usually meet up with friends. One of the best things about the Crown Prosecution Service is having flexi-time – especially whilst I’m studying as it allows me to have a good work-life balance. Sometimes I volunteer for overtime for the Saturday remands rota which start at 7am and finish around 10am – so if I do volunteer, I can still enjoy a full weekend!

Morning - starting the day

Before beginning my work day, I enjoy a warm cup of tea, a good breakfast, and some quality time with my family. It’s a simple but refreshing routine that helps set the tone for the rest of my day.

Once I’m ready, I log onto my laptop and check through my emails to see what needs addressing first. I work with colleagues on overnight remand cases, where defendants are in custody following overnight arrests or breaches to bail conditions. As a casework assistant, I prepare these case files ready for our advocates before court opens at 10am.

I then move on to my other tasks for the day. This can include preparing documentation for first hearings, recording hearing outcomes, and managing the remands inbox. My work focuses on cases that are heard in the magistrates’ court – these  include driving, drunk and disorderly and common assault offences. I also deal with either-way offences including theft, actual bodily harm (ABH) and fraud, which can be tried in the magistrates’ or Crown Court depending on the severity of the sentence required. And also, indictable-only offences that are more serious in nature and go to the Crown Court following a first hearing in the magistrates’. These can include murder, rape and robbery.

No matter the task, communication is key. I regularly speak with the police, the courts, and our prosecutors to make sure everything runs smoothly, and request any missing case material.

Lunch break – a moment to recharge

When I’m in the office, I love taking a quick walk to the local park. Headphones in, music on – it’s a great way to refresh my mind. Then, it’s a trip to Greggs for lunch (because, let’s be honest, you can never go wrong with Greggs!).

Back to business

After lunch, I go back to my assigned tasks, sorting case files and ensuring everything is prepared. Around midday, we get updates on completed case figures from our managers, which helps me track my progress and stay on top of our daily priorities. I concentrate on completing tasks promptly, which demands effective time management. In addition to preparing cases for our advocates in court, I also provide information and guidance over the phone. This includes speaking to defence lawyers, victims, witnesses, or the police about case updates or connecting them with our legal team to discuss case details.

My team has a dedicated Microsoft Teams channel for keeping in touch - I love that we all support each other, share a few laughs, and even organise get-togethers to strengthen our relationships. Whilst I enjoy the flexibility of working from home, I also like to go into the office twice a week to connect with my colleagues and learn from their experiences.

Winding down the work day

As the day comes to an end, I make sure all my tasks are done and the case files are updated, so our prosecutors and advocates in court have everything they need ready to review and present their cases. This can involve making sure case bundles are prepared – so it’s essential I gather together documents such as charge sheets, summaries, witness statements, exhibits, conviction records and other information from the police. This is a crucial part of my role, so that cases can be effectively presented.

Afterwards, I update my case figures on our case management system to help calculate average case processing times. Before logging off, I prepare my notes and to-do list for the next day. It really helps me stay organised and prioritise tasks effectively.

Once I’ve finished work, I like to go for a long walk or a run to clear my head. Evenings are all about family time, playing with my kids and cooking some delicious food for us to enjoy together.

Why I love working at the Crown Prosecution Service

Since joining the Crown Prosecution Service, I’ve always felt supported by my colleagues and managers. The organisation provides fantastic career growth opportunities and clear pathways for progression. There is access to Civil Service learning programmes, and also an individual learning allowance for your personal development. I’ve used this to purchase books on physical wellbeing, and I’d highly recommend Just One Thing by Dr Michael Mosley and Mindset by Dr Carol S. Dweck.

Our work can be challenging, but I genuinely enjoy working in a fast-paced environment. As a casework assistant, I take great pride in knowing that my role helps serve the public and makes a real difference in my community. The Crown Prosecution Service plays a vital role in delivering justice, and I’m grateful to be part of that mission every day.