Inquest service
The Law Clinic assists bereaved families before and during the inquest process. A dedicated team of students ensure that families are in a strong, informed position at the inquest hearing.
A coroner can decide to hold an inquest if someone has died in violent or unnatural circumstances. The purpose of an inquest is to establish who died, when they died, where they died, and how they died. Bereaved families will be joined to the proceedings as "interested parties", as will others who may have had contact with the deceased before they passed - such as NHS Trusts, GPs, or other organisations. Being an interested party means families have the opportunity to review the disclosed evidence, ask questions of any witnesses, and provide a view on what they consider the coroner's conclusion should be.
Being able to talk to bright and enthusiastic students, closing in on their final degree, offered us an avenue to receive quality support... Bristol Law Clinic made our difficult journey much easier. We will be eternally grateful for the time and courtesy they provided.
To be given the opportunity to advocate at a seven-day inquest was the most rewarding experience I had during my time at Bristol. To advise someone and ensure that what happened to their loved one would not happen to someone else, impacted my view on how I want to use my degree. It is an experience I will carry with me in my future career.