why is the coroner a lawyer in the uk

A coroner has either legal or medical qualifications, with 5 years experience in either field. They are usually qualified as a lawyer or a doctor. This means that they will either have very good legal or medical knowledge, which they can call upon to help with any relevant issues during an inquest.

Full Answer

What is the role of a coroner in the UK?

In the United Kingdom a coroner is an independent judicial office holder, appointed and paid for by the relevant local authority. The Ministry of Justice, which is headed by the Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice has the responsibility for the coronial law and policy only, and no operational responsibility.

Do I need a lawyer for the Coroners Court?

When becoming involved with the legal proceedings of the coroners court it is advisable to have access to qualified legal representation. You may be in the position where someone close to you has died and their death has been reported to the coroner.

Why choose coroners inquest barristers?

Our mission is to provide families and professionals involved in a coroner’s investigation with specialist advice and representation. Coroners Inquest Barristers also ensure that our clients have confidence in the service we provide. We treat our clients with compassion and empathy.

Are there any ex officio coroners in the UK?

Formerly, every justice of the High Court was, ex officio, a coroner for every district in England and Wales. This is no longer so; there are now no ex officio coroners.

Is a British coroner a lawyer?

Qualification. To become a coroner in England and Wales the applicant must be a qualified solicitor, barrister, or a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Legal Executives (CILEx) with at least five years' qualified experience.

Is a coroner a doctor or a lawyer?

Coroners are independent judicial officers, appointed by the local authority, and are either doctors or lawyers responsible for investigating the cause of deaths.

What powers does a coroner have UK?

Coroners' powers originate from:their duty to investigate certain deaths.the matters to be ascertained by an investigation.their duty to hold an inquest.

Is a coroner a judge UK?

Although the post they hold is judicial, and legal qualifications and experience are often required, coroners are not considered to be members of the courts judiciary. However, for especially high-profile inquests a judge may be appointed to oversee the proceedings as a deputy coroner.

Is a coroner a doctor UK?

Coroners are usually lawyers or doctors with a minimum of 5 years' experience. In most cases, a doctor or the police refer a death to the coroner.

Are coroners solicitors?

Each Senior Coroner usually appoints one or more Assistant Coroners or Area Coroners. These serve either full or part-time, usually while continuing work as solicitors, barristers or doctors.

What verdict can a coroner give?

Possible outcomes include: natural causes; accident; suicide; unlawful or lawful killing; industrial disease and open verdicts (where there is insufficient evidence for any other verdict). Sometimes a coroner uses a longer sentence describing the circumstances of the death, which is called a narrative verdict.

How much does a coroner earn UK?

Salaries for whole-time coroners are between £90,000 and £98,000 a year, based on the population size of the area they cover. Part-time coroners and deputy coroners are paid according to the number of cases they take on each year, ranging from around £9,800 for 200 cases to £49,000 for 2000 cases a year.

What qualifications does a coroner need UK?

How to become a coronera qualified barrister or solicitor with at least 5 years' experience in legal practice.a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Legal Executives with a minimum of 5 years' qualified experience.

What is a coroner in UK?

Coroners are independent judicial officers who investigate deaths reported to them. They will make whatever inquiries are necessary to find out the cause of death, this includes ordering a post-mortem examination, obtaining witness statements and medical records, or holding an inquest.

What is a coroner Court UK?

The Coroners' Courts Support Service (CCSS) is an independent voluntary organisation whose trained volunteers offer emotional support and practical help to bereaved families, witnesses and others attending an Inquest at a Coroner's Court.

What is coroners Court like UK?

What happens in coroner's court? The coroner's court will hear evidence from witnesses, and the coroner and legal representatives of the family will have opportunity to ask the witnesses questions. Families can attend an inquest, and also request documents such as post-mortem reports from the coroner's office.

How many coroners are there in England?

There are around 98 Coroners in England and Wales covering approximately 109 coroner areas (Coroners and Justice Act 2009 [Coroner Areas and Assistant Coroners] Transitional Order 2013), which loosely mirror the boundaries established by local authority districts. Coroners employ officers to assist them with their investigations.

When was the first chief coroner appointed?

The Office of the Chief Coroner was created by the Coroners and Justice Act 2009, with the first Chief Coroner being appointed in September 2012. The Chief Coroner heads the coroner system and has overall responsibility and national leadership for Coroners in England and Wales.

What is an inquest in the law?

Inquests are legal inquiries into the cause and circumstances of a death, and are limited, fact-finding inquiries; a Coroner will consider both oral and written evidence during the course of an inquest. The Coroner's duty to hold an inquest is contained in section 6 of the Coroners and Justice Act 2009.

What is the legal guidance for the Crown Prosecution Service?

This legal guidance provides prosecutors with information about Coroners and their responsibilities. It also provides operational advice regarding the Agreement between The Crown Prosecution Service, The National Police Chiefs' Council, The Chief Coroner and The Coroners' Society of England and Wales.

How long does it take to complete an inquest?

Under Rule 8 of the Coroners (Inquest) Rules 2013, Coroners are required to complete an inquest within 6 months of the date on which the Coroner is made aware of the death, or as soon as is reasonably practicable.

What is the purpose of a post mortem?

The Coroner will request a post mortem to be carried out by a pathologist to determine the cause of death. An inquest will be held if the cause of death remains unknown after the initial examination, or there is reason to suspect the death was violent or unnatural, or the deceased died in prison.

What does it mean when the police say there is a possibility of a prosecution for death by careless driving?

Where there appears to be a genuine prospect of a prosecution for death by careless or dangerous driving then the police may indicate to the coroner that they would like the coroner to authorise a full forensic post-mortem examination (which may amount to a second post-mortem examination if the coroner has already authorised a post-mortem examination).

How many coroners are there in England?

The coroners’ system. Unlike the unified courts system, administered by HM Courts and Tribunals Service, there are 92 separate coroners’ jurisdictions in England and Wales. Each jurisdiction is locally funded and resourced by local authorities.

What is the jurisdiction of the coroner?

The remainder are paid according to the number of cases referred to them. The coroner’s jurisdiction is territorial – it is the location of the dead body which dictates which coroner has jurisdiction in any particular case.

What is a deputy coroner?

Deputy coroners. Coroners are required to appoint a deputy or assistant deputy to act in their stead if they are out of the district or otherwise unable to act. Deputies and assistant deputies have the same professional qualifications as the coroner.

When was the coroner's office established?

The office of coroner was formally established in 1194, originally as a form of tax gatherer. In the centuries since, the role has evolved into an independent judicial officer, charged with the investigation of sudden, violent or unnatural death.

Is a coroner a member of the judiciary?

Coroners. Although the post they hold is judicial, and legal qualifications and experience are often required, coroners are not considered to be members of the courts judiciary. However, for especially high-profile inquests a judge may be appointed to oversee the proceedings as a deputy coroner.

If the Coroner is involved

If organ or tissue donation is intended, immediate advice is needed from the hospital or the coroner’s officer. Then a Tissue Donor Coordinator or a Donor Transplant Coordinator will be able to discuss the options. The coroner must agree before the donation can happen.

1. Who are Coroners?

Coroners are independent judicial officers guided by specific laws and rules. Each coroner has a deputy and one or the other must be available 24 x 7. Coroners are generally lawyers but may also be doctors.

2. What do Coroners do?

Coroners look into deaths which appear to be violent, unnatural, or of sudden and unknown cause. The coroner will try to discover the medical cause of death. If doubt remains after a post mortem an inquest is held.

4. Are all deaths reported to the Coroner?

No. In mostly, the GP or hospital doctor is able to issue a Medical Certificate and the death can then be registered by the Registrar of Births and Deaths in the normal way.

5. What is a Post Mortem?

It’s a medical examination of the deceased for the coroner by a pathologist of the coroner’s choice. The consent of the next-of-kin is not required for a coroner’s post mortem.

6. Post Mortem Report

The report gives details of the results of the pathologists examination of the deceased and of any lab tests. Copies of the post mortem report are usually be available to next-of-kin and to certain other relatives. A fee may be payable.

8. Medical Records

Medical records are still confidential after death. Coroners necessarily are able to ask for medical information they consider is relevant and necessary.

What is the role of a coroner?

A coroner is an official appointed by the Government to investigate deaths where there are concerns about the circumstances in which they died.

Who are they?

A coroner has either legal or medical qualifications, with 5 years experience in either field. They are usually qualified as a lawyer or a doctor. This means that they will either have very good legal or medical knowledge, which they can call upon to help with any relevant issues during an inquest. They may have experience in both fields.

I have an inquest, do I have to contact the Coroner?

An inquest investigation is opened after the death has been reported to the coroner, and they consider that there are questions about how, when and where the person came to their death.

What does a coroner do?

The coroner manages the inquest, from the initial decision on whether a death needs to be investigated, to leading the inquest hearing in court.

Do I have to speak at the inquest hearing?

During the hearing, the coroner may ask someone from the family to talk about their relative who has died and provide some background information at the beginning of the inquest. The coroner will ask them some questions about this and what has happened.

What is the role of a coroner?

Their role is to hear the evidence presented by witnesses and experts, to determine the causes or circumstances of someone’s death. As independent judicial officers, coroners must have a legal background.

How long does it take to become a coroner?

To become a coroner, you must be a barrister or solicitor with at least five years experience in the profession after qualifying. Some coroners also have a medical qualification on top of their legal training.

What happens if a post mortem fails?

If the post-mortem report fails to find the cause of death or suggests that a crime may have been committed, then the coroner will begin an inquest. Find out more about post-mortem examinations.

What is a post mortem examination?

Post-mortem examinations, sometimes called autopsies, are conducted by a pathologist and involve studying the body for evidence of how the person died. If the post-mortem is successful and reveals the cause of death, the coroner will send a form to the registrar stating the cause of death.

What are the circumstances of a death?

Coroners are appointed by local councils to investigate when the circumstances surrounding a death are unclear or unknown. This may include when: 1 The cause of death is unknown 2 The death was unnatural or violent 3 The person died in prison or custody 4 The identity of the person who has died is uncertain or unknown 5 A medical certificate isn’t available

What happens when a person dies unexpectedly?

When someone’s death was unexpected, a coroner will investigate the death. A coroner’s hearing will also take place if someone took their own life, died from an industrial disease, or from medical negligence or an accident.

Does a coroner have to have a medical certificate?

A medical certificate isn’t available. The coroner’s job is to find out how, when and where the person died for official records, as well as for the benefit of the bereaved. In some cases, the coroner will decide that the cause of death is clear.

What is the role of a coroner in Australia?

Australia. Australian coroners are responsible for investigating and determining the cause of death for those cases reported to them. In all states and territories, a coroner is a magistrate with legal training, and is attached to a local court.

What is the role of a coroner?

A coroner is a government or judicial official who is empowered to conduct or order an inquest into the manner or cause of death, and to investigate or confirm the identity of an unknown person who has been found dead within the coroner's jurisdiction. In medieval times, English coroners were Crown officials who held financial powers ...

What is the purpose of the inquest in Sri Lanka?

In Sri Lanka, the Ministry of Justice appoints Inquirers into Sudden Deaths under the Code of Criminal Procedure to carry out an inquest into the death of a sudden, unexpected and suspicious nature. Some large cities such as Colombo and Kandy have a City Coroners' Court attached to the main city hospital, with a Coroner and Additional Coroner.

How to become a coroner in England?

To become a coroner in England and Wales the applicant must be a qualified solicitor, barrister, or a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Legal Executives (CILEx) with at least five years' qualified experience. This reflects the role of a coroner: to determine the cause of death of a deceased in cases where the death was sudden, unexpected, occurred abroad, was suspicious in any way, or happened while the person was under the control of central authority (e.g., in police custody ). Until 2013 a qualified medical practitioner could be appointed, but that is no longer possible. Any medical coroner still in office will either have been appointed before 2013, or, exceptionally, will hold both medical and legal qualifications.

What are the responsibilities of a coroner?

Duties and functions. Responsibilities of the coroner may include overseeing the investigation and certification of deaths related to mass disasters that occur within the coroner's jurisdiction. A coroner's office typically maintains death records of those who have died within the coroner's jurisdiction.

How long does it take to get a death certificate?

If the deceased has been under medical care, or has been seen by a doctor within 14 days of death, then the doctor can issue a death certificate. However, if the deceased died without being seen by a doctor, or if the doctor is unwilling to make a determination, the coroner will investigate the cause and manner of death.

Which provinces have coroners?

In the other provinces and territories with a coroner system, namely British Columbia, Saskatchewan, Quebec, New Brunswick, Northwest Territories, Nunavut, and Yukon, coroners are not necessarily physicians but generally have legal, medical, or investigative backgrounds.

Why is the coroner important?

Coroners play an important role in the dispensation of justice in the United Kingdom. When a death occurs, especially in an unnatural or mysterious manner, it is the job of a coroner to investigate and establish the cause. If you possess strong investigative skills, and you would like to work in the judicial system, albeit independently, ...

How to become a coroner?

If you have your sights set on becoming a coroner, then you must first become a solicitor or barrister. In general, you need to earn a bachelor’s degree in law and complete a GDL conversion course among other requirements. It is also possible to enter the legal profession through an apprenticeship, like the one offered by the Chartered Institute of Legal Executives (CILEx).

How much do coroners make?

Salary. Coroners are well-paid. According to the National Careers Service, full-time coroners make between £83,000 and £104,000 annually. Those who work on a part-time basis can make up to £50,000.

What is the work environment of a coroner?

The work environment of a coroner is more like that of a detective. Although they have offices, they are often on the move gathering information from the people who knew the deceased. When they are not investigating deaths, they focus on practicing law since they are already qualified barristers or solicitors.

How many local authorities are there in England?

The 97 local authorities in England and Wales are the primary employers of coroners. With vast experience, you can rise to become a senior coroner. If you are competent enough, and you have solid connections in the judicial system, then you stand a chance of becoming the Chief Coroner.

What is the job of a postmortem?

Their duties include: Investigating the cause of a reported death- This may involve interviewing the deceased’s doctors and family members, as well as ordering a postmortem examination. Investigating the identity of the deceased, in case the remains have not been claimed by relatives.

What are the skills required to view dead bodies?

Interpersonal skills. The ability to demonstrate sensitivity to the emotions and feelings of the deceased’s relatives. Skills in personnel management. Analytical skills. Love for a just society. Presentation skills. Emotional strength – the job involves viewing dead bodies, some which may be in unsightly states.

What is the role of the Chief Coroner?

The Chief Coroner acts to ensure that the process for each appointment is open, fair and transparent.

How many days a year does an assistant coroner work?

Once appointed an assistant coroner will normally work a minimum of 15 days a year although local circumstances (such as a jurisdiction with a part-time senior coroner or where an assistant coroner is appointed for a specific case) may warrant a variation from this standard. Senior coroners are therefore expected to provide at least 15 days paid work for assistant coroners, which may be office coroner work or inquest hearings or both, as agreed with the senior coroner.

What is the training required for assistant coroners?

Newly appointed assistant coroners will undergo induction coroner training. This is organised by the Chief Coroner under the auspices of the Judicial College (which trains all judges). This training is compulsory.