What is B.C.'s Prosecution Service Articling Program?
This is an articling experience primarily devoted to the practice of criminal law in a Crown counsel office. Students articling in this program will be working from the Crown counsel offices in either Kamloops, Nanaimo, Prince George, New Westminster, Surrey or Vancouver.
Crown counsel are barristers who must master every element of trial practice. This includes case preparation, the examination and cross-examination of witnesses and presentation of legal arguments. Articling students will work closely with lawyers in all aspects of trial work, both at the provincial and Supreme Court levels. Students may be asked to do legal research, assist in interviewing witnesses, appear at arraignment hearings, deal with disclosure, and assist in the preparation of witness examinations and arguments. Articling students will assume conduct of trials of summary conviction matters and bail hearings, and will often make other court appearances. Students may also be requested to assist in the preparation of appeals, either of summary conviction or indictable matters.
Students will be exposed to all aspects of a prosecutor’s work, including providing advice to police during the course of an investigation, reviewing reports to Crown counsel and assisting in charge approval (by which it is ensured that cases only proceed where there is a substantial likelihood of conviction and it is in the public interest to launch a prosecution). It is anticipated that the student will spend approximately 2/3 of their articling term focusing on criminal law matters.
In order to fulfill their articling requirements, students will have an opportunity for secondment to a private law firm in the same geographical location for exposure to other areas of law. Students may also be offered an opportunity to work within other areas of the Ministry of the Justice, such as conducting small claims trials. Such opportunities will not require relocation to Vancouver or Victoria for this portion of the articling experience. By the end of the articling year, it is anticipated that students will be sufficiently well trained to work as junior prosecutors. They will have the litigation skills to start a career in criminal law, and the training and contacts to consider pursuing a career as Crown counsel.
