Niamh McDonagh – LLB (Hons) Law, 2020

I have been a trainee solicitor at the CPS since September 2021. Prior to this I completed my undergraduate law degree at Lincoln from 2017-2020 and went on to undertake the LPC and LLM in September 2020. I was quite adamant that I wanted to practice criminal law, despite having virtually no experience in the area. Very kindly (and luckily) I was offered some shadowing with a duty solicitor at Lincoln Magistrates Court just before starting my LPC which truly changed everything! From those few days in court, I knew criminal law was for me and found every minute fascinating. That experience also affirmed to me that I was perhaps more interested in the other side of the coin – prosecution. 

  I applied for the CPS training contract in April 2021 for a September start; they now recruit at least a year in advance, but it was previously a very quick turnaround! I completed the lengthy application process and interview stages which comprised of online tests, a video interview, a written assessment and oral presentation and then a final panel interview. I received my formal offer a few months later. In September 2021 I moved to London to start with the CPS and began my first 6-month seat in our RASSO (Rape and Serious Sexual Offences) team. Every single day was different to the one before, my work was extremely varied and demanding from the outset but also more inspiring and rewarding than I ever expected. 

After that, I moved to our Homicide Team where I reviewed cases of murder, manslaughter and fatal road traffic collisions. I enjoyed this seat so much I stayed for 9 months! My work varied from reviewing cases and making charging decisions, instructing expert witnesses and counsel, referring cases to the Court of Appeal under the Unduly Lenient Sentence scheme, meeting with bereaved families, working with the Met on decades old cold cases and liaising with law enforcement agencies all over the world to instigate extradition proceedings. Most of my days were spent at The Old Bailey – which I don’t think I will ever stop being in awe of! Seeing the cases that I am working on in the media is always completely surreal and reminds me daily of the gravity and importance of what we do. 

I am currently on secondment at London Inner South Coroner’s Court where I am assisting with various areas of coronial law. When I come back to the CPS in May, I will be prosecuting in the Magistrates Court and actually on my feet doing advocacy before I qualify (which I am secretly terrified about)! I hope this shows just how varied my training contract is and the many facets to criminal law; there really is something to pique everyone’s interest. I hope to spend the next stages of my career pursuing my interest in prosecuting cases of violence against women and girls and helping other future criminal lawyers to follow their passion!’