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Me and my job - Sarah Marsh

22 February 2010

Sarah Marsh is a paralegal officer for the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) in Bradford, working with a fellow paralegal officer and a lawyer and dealing with Halifax and Huddersfield magistrates? courts and Crown courts.

Justice must be done, but Crown Prosecution Service member Sarah Marsh has to make sure it actually gets done

Sarah Marsh is a paralegal officer for the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) in Bradford, working with a fellow paralegal officer and a lawyer and dealing with Halifax and Huddersfield magistrates’ courts and Crown courts.

“My job is to make sure cases progress through the criminal justice system as efficiently and quickly as possible,” said Sarah.

“The job used to be ‘case progression officer’ but the role has been extended.

“We are alleviating administrative work from the CPS prosecutors – the lawyers. We work closely with them so that they can spend as much time as possible in court and we can develop our knowledge and experience.”

Much of Sarah’s work is drafting legal documents and answering correspondence from the defence lawyers for the courts. For instance, in domestic violence cases where the defendant has previous convictions against the same partner, she will apply to the court for a hearing where the CPS can argue the case for producing this evidence in court.

She also works closely with Witness Care who let victims and witnesses know if they need to attend court and tries to make sure they turn up so that hearings don’t have to be postponed.

love my job – it’s very hands on

Sarah also liaises with Witness Care and the police about whether victims or witnesses need ‘special measures’ such as a TV link to give evidence in cases where the victim might feel intimidated and clam up face-to-face with the defendant.

“If it is agreed that special measures are needed, we make an application to the court and if it is granted then we tell Witness Care who tells the victim or witness. A lot goes on behind the scenes that people don’t realise.”

A learning environment

Sarah is actively involved in the union, including as learning coordinator and assistant secretary of Yorkshire and Humberside CPS branch.

Following the success of a week-long Learning at Work event, she is negotiating with management about organising more events throughout the region, including work related topics such as bad character evidence and rules on disclosure.

“Lawyers deal with these things but I want staff to be given a basic insight into rules and regulations that are discussed on a daily basis,” said Sarah. “Courses don’t have to be work-related though. We’ve had everything from health and safety to belly dancing where a member of staff passed on her skills to her colleagues.

“I love my job – it’s very hands on – and I enjoy working with the prosecutors. It keeps me very busy but I find it extremely enjoyable.”

My day

Sarah Marsh, Paralegal officer Crown Prosecution Service, Bradford I usually go to the gym on my way to work and am in by 8.30 am. I start with a good strong fresh coffee and then check if there is any priority work to do quickly.

In the mornings I draw up reports on prosecution case files, reviewing the evidence to make sure that everything is there for the court.

I check that all the statements are in order and if something is missing – for example a copy of CCTV footage – I get that from the police so that it will be available as evidence.

If photos have been taken – perhaps of a road traffic accident or of a person’s injuries – I check that they are good quality, and I make sure that any handwritten statements are clear enough to be read.

Normally it’s time for lunch after I’ve done a few of those.

In the afternoon I usually deal with witnesses, making sure the paperwork has been served and that the witness has confirmed that he or she will be attending the court on the day.