Caitlin Weston

Paralegal Officer @Crown Prosecution Service

I’m currently a Paralegal Officer on the specialist Rape and Serious Sexual Offences (RASSO) Unit. This role entails the following tasks: To supervise and monitor workflows, plan and prioritise work and direct Paralegal Assistants to meet objectives and targets. To read and research cases, providing legal advice and making recommendations to prosecutors upon receipt of papers following case allocation within the team. In partnership with prosecutors, undertake summary trial case preparation and progression in respect of all cases in the Unit/Team (including cases in the PCPT). Represent the CPS effectively to outside agencies and the public, providing care, information and support to victims and witnesses of crime. Represent the RASSO unit at meetings, both internally and externally when required. To prepare the Crown Court Case Preparation Package on the Case Management System (CMS) at the pre and post committal/transfer stage, to include building indictments, consideration of the evidence and making recommendations to the reviewing lawyer as to the conduct of the case. To be deployed at Court as required by the Paralegal Business Manager on a case-by-case basis, taking into consideration issues such as case complexity and sensitivity. Before attendance at the Court sitting, familiarise myself with the history of the case, the progress log and the issues that are likely to arise.