Earlier this year we published an article on the Ministry of Justice’s final report into their review of legal aid for inquests. A range of changes are referred to in the February 2019 report covering three areas, with the aim of improving the current legal process and fostering a more supportive system for families.
Three key areas
- Initial contact and communication with bereaved family members.
- Legal aid for inquests.
- The inquest hearing.
A number of commitments were made by the Ministry which are detailed in our article, including reviewing the conduct of inquest hearings and organising a conference for lawyers this summer both for those who represent public bodies and those who represent families, to encourage support for the Government’s proposed changes and the use of an inquisitorial advocacy approach at hearings. This has not yet materialised but we are making enquiries of the MoJ.
The Government also committed to consider how best to improve the Exceptional Case Funding application process for those seeking legal aid to fund legal representation at inquests and Mills & Reeve have been invited to the Government’s workshop which will take place later this month in London. Inquest lawyer Kevin Duce will be attending the workshop and will update readers in due course.
Comments