Comprehensive Survey on Inquest Training Courses: Insights and Feedback

On 28 July 2026, the Legal Aid Agency (LAA) announced its plans to establish a new Inquests Category of Law. This initiative aims to enhance the legal framework surrounding inquests, particularly in light of recent legislative developments.

Key Requirements for Inquest Supervisors

As part of the new Inquest Category, the LAA has specified that it will be necessary to appoint a part-time equivalent supervisor within this category. This supervisor must adhere to a defined legal competence standard, ensuring that they possess the necessary expertise and knowledge to oversee inquest cases effectively.

The LAA intends to provide two pathways for individuals to demonstrate compliance with the legal competence standard. The first option involves gaining practical experience through the management of a specified number of inquest cases. Alternatively, individuals may opt to complete an inquest training course that has received approval from the LAA.

Seeking Feedback on Training Course Criteria

To facilitate this initiative, the LAA is actively seeking input regarding the criteria that should be employed to assess the approval of training courses for inquests. A draft list of these criteria has been made available on the agency’s website to encourage transparency and engagement.

Accompanying the criteria is a brief survey designed to gather opinions on the draft criteria, particularly focusing on the feasibility of the outlined requirements. The LAA is inviting feedback from a broad spectrum of stakeholders, including legal providers, training course providers, representative bodies, and anyone with a vested interest in the training standards for inquest-related courses.

The Context of Legislative Changes

This initiative comes in response to the introduction of the Public Office (Accountability) Bill, commonly referred to as the Hillsborough Law, which has recently been presented to Parliament. The Bill aims to establish non-means tested legal assistance and legally aided advocacy in inquests where a public authority is involved as an interested party.

In light of this legislative shift, the LAA is moving forward with its plans to procure the new Inquest Category of Law, as outlined in the Headline Intentions document published on 28 July 2026. This document provides further insights into the agency’s objectives and the upcoming tender process.

Additional Information and Survey Deadline

For those interested in providing feedback, further details and a link to the survey can be found on the LAA’s official website. Please note that the survey will remain open until 12 August 2026, offering stakeholders a valuable opportunity to contribute to the development of training course criteria for inquests.