Introduction to Inquests Training 2026

Overview

This training covers key topics to support legal practitioners and other professionals involved in inquests to deepen their understanding of this complex system. All levels of practitioners are welcome to this training, including those with little to no experience in inquests.

Introduction to Inquests

LAG’s annual Introduction to Inquests training is designed to provide delegates with the essential knowledge and skills required to navigate the inquest process with confidence.

This full-day, in-person training will be delivered by Shanthi Sivakumaran, Ruby Peacock, Natalie Lucas and Jordan Briggs from Doughty Street Chambers.

Topics include:

• Laws and guidance from the chief coroner

• An overview of the investigative process

• How inquest hearings are structured

• Pre-inquest hearings, submissions and questioning

• Specific types of inquests (prison deaths, deaths in mental health detention & hospital deaths)

Case studies will provide practical examples to help improve your skills. The training also includes guidance on reaching conclusions, Prevention of Future Death (PFD) reports, civil claims, funding options and recent changes in legislation.

Hillsborough Law

This landmark legislation increases accountability, introduces a statutory duty of candour across public authorities and ensures the provision of legal aid for bereaved families during inquests.

With this in mind, the need for legal aid inquest lawyers will substantially increase. Bereaved families deserve excellent representation by trained lawyers able to take on this complex area of law. Join our training to be equipped to begin your career supporting those families access justice.

Discount for Delegates - Inquests: a practitioner’s guide

Delegates also have the opportunity to purchase Inquests: a practitioner’s guide at an exclusive discounted rate. This guide seeks to assist legal practitioners in promoting the rights of bereaved people who become involved in inquests. It is uniquely focused on examining the practice and procedure of the coroner’s court from the point of view of a practitioner acting for the bereaved.

Join us at our Introduction to Inquests training to equip yourself with the knowledge and skills to make an impact, learn practical tips, continue your professional development and connect with fellow professionals in the field.

Shanthi Sivakumaran,Doughty Street Chambers
Shanthi has a broad public law practice with particular expertise in public inquiries and inquests. Shanthi is regularly instructed on behalf of bereaved families in Article 2 jury inquests. She has experience in deaths in prison custody, psychiatric detention and following police contact. She has been instructed as Counsel to Inquiry and on behalf of core participants in major public inquiries of national importance including the Grenfell Tower Public Inquiry, the Undercover Policing Inquiry, and the Covid-19 Public Inquiry.

Ruby Peacock, Doughty Street Chambers
Ruby Peacock’s practice spans inquests, public inquiries, and actions against the police and public authorities. In inquest proceedings, Ruby represents families and acts as Counsel to the Inquest, with a focus on deaths arising from contact with the police, deaths engaging issues of workplace health and safety, and deaths in custody.  

Ruby is instructed as Junior Counsel to the Inquests in the coronial investigation into the deaths of four miners at Gleision Mine in South Wales in 2011. Ruby recently represented the family in the inquest into the death of Lucy Curtis, a 17-year-old girl who died following an incident of self-harm on 27 December 2023 whilst an inpatient at Riverside Adolescent Unit in Bristol.

Natalie Lucas, Doughty Street Chambers
Natalie has a broad practice spanning extradition, criminal law, inquests, civil actions against public authorities and international human rights. Before joining the bar, Natalie qualified as a solicitor and worked at REDRESS. She worked on strategic litigation against torture and financial accountability of perpetrators of human rights abuses and serious corruption.

Natalie has acted in pre-inquest review hearings and represents families in coronial proceedings. Natalie has a particular interest in cases arising from contact with the police and failures in other custodial settings. 

Jordan Briggs, Doughty Street Chambers
Jordan has a busy, diverse practice spanning mental capacity law, mental health law, personal injury law and inquests.  Jordan acts in inquests that touch upon mental health or disability. He has deep experience in inquests touching upon Article 2 ECHR, and has written academic articles on the operational obligation imposed by Article 2. 

Jordan has particular experience representing the bereaved relatives of patients. He has acted in inquests involving deaths in the community, and whilst the deceased was detained pursuant to the Mental Health Act 1983, and in circumstances involving suicide, homicide and avoidable organic illness. Jordan also appears in Pre-Inquest Review hearings and final hearings, and can advise on associated civil claims.Before coming to the Bar, Jordan worked in a leading national law firm in a team managing the property and financial affairs of disabled individuals who lack mental capacity to make those decisions for themselves.