6 Pump Court Hosts In-Depth Inquest Law Seminar at Inner Temple

Yesterday, legal practitioners gathered at the Parliament Room, Inner Temple today for a comprehensive seminar on current practice and procedure in inquests, hosted by the Inquest Team at 6 Pump Court.

The 2½‑hour session centred on a mock inquest led by Assistant Coroner James Puzey, with members of the 6 Pump Court Inquest Group taking the roles of representatives and witnesses. The interactive format allowed attendees to observe the structure of an inquest hearing, explore real‑world legal challenges, and engage in a question‑and‑answer session following the exercise.
The seminar addressed a range of topical issues in coronial law, including:

• When the requirement for an Article 2 inquest is triggered
• The legal threshold for a finding of neglect
• How to define the scope of an inquest
• When the need for expert evidence becomes necessary
• The importance of a coroner’s professional duty to call or read witness evidence
• Approaches to effectively questioning both professional and lay witnesses

In addition to legal analysis, the event created an opportunity for practitioners from across the sector to network and discuss recent developments in the law governing inquests.