At the Public Defender Service, we believe every person deserves skilled, compassionate, trauma‑informed representation. Our teams work across England and Wales to deliver justice with excellence, integrity, and humanity, standing beside people at the hardest moments of their lives and helping them be seen as more than the allegation they face.
We are building a future‑focused, quality‑led organisation that develops brilliant lawyers, strengthens our profession, and improves the criminal justice system. Whether you join us in Operations, as a Solicitor, an Advocate, or through one of our entry‑level schemes, you will be part of One PDS – a collaborative, supportive community committed to making a difference.
Operational Careers
Administration, operational delivery, and frontline support roles
Our Operational Support teams are essential to delivering seamless client care. They work closely with solicitors and advocates across all four offices to ensure every client receives timely, high‑quality support.
Roles in Operations include:
- Administrative Support Officers – managing client communications, file handling, listing, time recording and supporting solicitors with case progression.
- Clerks – liaising with courts, solicitors, and advocates, organising diaries and hearings, allocating work, and ensuring advocates are instructed appropriately for each case.
- Business Management – managing corporate functions including finance, risk, and health and safety.
Why join our Ops teams?
- Be part of a high‑impact public service environment.
- Work closely with legal teams to support vulnerable clients.
- Professional development opportunities focusing on career growth and wellbeing.
Solicitor Careers
Solicitors at the PDS work in a fast‑paced, dynamic environment providing representation at police stations, advocacy at the Magistrates’ Court, and litigation and advocacy at the Crown Courts. We also have a prison law team.
What we offer:
A unique training‑led culture with structured supervision.
Cross‑office collaboration, shared resources and peer learning.
Opportunities to specialise (e.g., prison law, BIOT cases, remote litigation, youth
Our training programme
We have designed a mission‑driven, intensive, interactive, and supportive programme inspired by leading public defence models to encourage and inspire excellence. As a result, the Public Defender Service offers a training experience unlike any other in the UK. Our programme combines rigorous practical exposure with structured academic support, preparing trainees and new lawyers for real‑world practice as well as their qualifications (SQE, CILEX, PSRAS, and MCQ).
Our approach prioritises high‑quality training, realistic workloads and strong pastoral support, reflecting our view that long‑term retention depends not only on recruitment but on creating an environment in which criminal defence lawyers can build resilient and fulfilling careers.
Key Features of PDS Training:
- Intensive Interactive Learning: Workshops, simulations, and trial advocacy sessions mirroring real courtroom and client situations, with immediate feedback and opportunities to refine approach.
- Dedicated Study Days: Protected time for exam preparation alongside practical casework, access to courses, mock assessments, and help with study plans.
- Mentorship and Supervision: Close guidance, regular feedback, and opportunities to shadow experienced advocates as well as dedicated and supportive mentorship and legal supervision.
- Holistic Defence Approach: Training beyond legal skills – trauma-informed practice and client‑centred strategies to address wider needs. Sessions included talks and Q&As with other services and clients, prison and court cell tours, and a pilot volunteering at local drop‑ins to deepen understanding of the system and the challenges clients face.
- Workshopping actual case work: Structured forums and one-to-one sessions to workshop case strategy, trial preparation, and rehearse court hearings – building confidence before standing up in court.
This combination of academic support, practical experience, and holistic client care sets PDS training apart. It equips our future lawyers not only to pass exams, but to excel as advocates who deliver justice with skill, empathy, and integrity.
Our 2024/25 Training Class
Our 2024 SQE Trainees:
Joshua Fox
Lucy McKenna
Darren Megrath
Rhian Wyatt
Our 2025 New Solicitors:
Chloe Gardner
Tanith Harwood
Amara McCalla
Our 2025 Cilex trainee:
Shireen Rasool
The Training Experience:
Our trainees and new lawyers describe the PDS as collaborative, supportive, and focused on growth. Here’s what they had to say about what makes PDS training unique:
“We have found our legal training with the Public Defender Service to be an incredibly rewarding experience. From the outset, the level of support has been outstanding. It is clear that the whole team is genuinely invested in our development, creating an environment where training is not just a process but a priority.”
Darren Megrath, Trainee Solicitor (Cheltenham): I have really appreciated the opportunity to work alongside such a great, supportive team allowing me to build meaningful friendships. I moved country for this job with no idea what to expect but I feel like I have a great support network around me and I have the PDS to thank for that. I have found the job extremely rewarding. Working with vulnerable clients and being able to clearly see the positive outcome of the work I am doing has given me a strong sense of purpose and fulfilment in work. Receiving emails from clients thanking me for my continued support really makes the job feel worthwhile.
Lucy McKenna, Trainee Solicitor (Darlington): One of my main highlights has been the opportunities we have been given to complete full-day training sessions, for example, in preparation for our Police Station Accreditation exams. During these sessions, many experienced members of the PDS helped us with our training, which we were extremely grateful for. These sessions were intense but gave us the opportunity to practice the role in a risk-free environment and get important feedback. This really helped my confidence and gave us the chance to ask as many questions as we needed. These sessions also allowed us to spend time with our peers and further build our relationships.
Rhian Wyatt, Trainee Solicitor (Merthyr): I have thoroughly enjoyed my training within the PDS so far. My team are always approachable, take the time to explain processes and answer any questions I have (and there are many …). Our training feels collaborative and values-driven, with a strong emphasis on the client and the wider social impact of our role. To many clients, we are the first people who truly listen to their needs and their side of the story. At the beginning of my training, I underestimated the impact this has – not only on the client but on the overall case strategy. I have since realised that advocacy begins long before entering the courtroom; it starts with listening, empathy, and clear communication. This approach has shaped my development as a future defence solicitor and highlighted why the PDS’s client-focused ethos is so vital.
Amara McCalla, Duty Solicitor (Cheltenham): My first year at the PDS has been an exciting and a rewarding experience. Compared to my previous roles, it feels more collaborative and focused on continuous learning, which has helped me grow both professionally and personally. The training and support I have received since starting at the PDS has been structured, practical, and tailored to help me progress. A real positive for me has also been the ability to give more back to our clients by bringing a more holistic approach to their needs and use this to achieve the best possible outcome for them. I look forward to supporting future newly qualified and trainee solicitors, sharing insights and helping them develop in a positive environment. Looking ahead, I hope being part of the PDS will mean continued development, opportunities to take on more responsibility and making a meaningful impact in shaping the future of the PDS.
Chloe Gardner, Duty Solicitor (Cheltenham): My first year at the PDS has been quite the whirlwind but I have been supported more in my time at PDS than in any other employment to date. There have been regular training sessions either in person or online since I started and all of these have helped me fit in with the team, get to know others who have started at a similar time in a similar position to me as well as helped me to improve my advocacy skills and build confidence in court. No question is a silly one and there is always someone available to reach out to.
Aside from achieving positive outcomes for clients, what I have enjoyed the most is getting to know lots of likeminded people, fitting in well with not only my close team but everyone I have engaged with since joining the PDS and feeling like a valued and appreciated member of the team. I have high hopes for my career at the PDS and once I have built on my skills and confidence in the Magistrates’ Court, I hope to complete the HRA to allow me to represent clients at all levels.
Tanith Harwood, Duty Solicitor (Swansea): My first year at the Public Defender Service has been both challenging and incredibly rewarding. Coming from a background in property law in a private firm, the shift has felt like stepping into a completely different world: fast-paced, unpredictable, and deeply human.
I’ve loved the intellectual challenge of defending clients and the sense of purpose that comes with advocating for the most vulnerable. What I’m most proud of is how quickly I’ve adapted and grown in confidence, thanks to the exceptional support and guidance from my team. The training has been far more hands-on, and dynamic compared to private practice, which has helped me develop practical skills alongside legal knowledge. Looking ahead, I’m excited to continue building expertise, contribute meaningfully to the team, and hopefully take on more complex cases as I progress. Being part of such a supportive environment makes me optimistic about the next few years.
Work Experience & Graduate Insight Programmes
Our Cheltenham‑based pilot offers:
- Crown Court tours, police station roleplays and mitigation exercises.
- Shadowing with solicitors, advocates and operational teams.
Career Development for Experienced Lawyers
We invest heavily in ongoing professional development, recognising that excellent public defence requires continual learning.
Opportunities include:
- Advanced court and trial advocacy programmes.
- Youth Advocacy training.
- Prison law specialisation.
- Leadership and line‑management courses.
- Opportunities to contribute to policy work, training delivery, and national LAA projects.