John Edwards' comments in his letter about the extended remit of designated caseworkers (DCWs) in the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) do not represent the views of the majority of lawyers within the service (see [2004] 20 May, 15).

This is one of a number of changes to modernise the CPS and put it at the heart of cases from charge to sentence, which have been introduced since Mr Edwards retired some time ago.

He suggests that it means that the bulk of advocacy will be carried out by people without legal training.

However, DCWs will be handling straightforward, non-contentious matters, such as guilty pleas, proofs in absence in summary-only cases and applications for removal of driving disqualifications.

They will have appropriate training and will be closely supervised by Crown prosecutors.

It will not have a detrimental effect on the morale of our lawyers but is more likely to increase job satisfaction and morale, as they will be able to concentrate on more challenging work that better uses their legal skills and experience.

Neither is it 'creeping de-lawyerisation' at the CPS.

We currently employ more lawyers than at any time in our history and Crown prosecutors, as higher court advocates, present more cases than ever in Crown Courts.

CPS lawyers are now involved in cases right from the start through provisions in the Criminal Justice Act for charges to be determined by the CPS rather than police.

The reality of this new way of working is not as Mr Edwards imagines.

Pilot sites have seen increased conviction rates and guilty pleas, and both frontline prosecutors and police officers have responded enthusiastically.

Duty prosecutors are finding it challenging and satisfying work.

This is an exciting time to work at the CPS, as a lawyer or caseworker, now we are playing a fuller role in the criminal justice system.

As a result we are, contrary to what Mr Edwards supposes, recruiting and retaining many talented lawyers across England and Wales.

Ken Macdonald QC, Director of Public Prosecutions, London