Coroner
Law and legal

How to become a coroner

You can get into this job through:

• applying directly

Direct application

You'll usually start as an assistant coroner.

You should be either:

• a qualified barrister or solicitor
• a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Legal Executives with at least 5 years' qualified experience.

Local authorities appoint coroners and assistant coroners, with the consent of the Chief Coroner and the Lord Chancellor.

More info

Career tips A few coroners have qualifications in both law and medicine.

What it takes

Skills & Knowledge

You'll need:

• to be thorough and pay attention to detail
• customer service skills
• knowledge of English language
• sensitivity and understanding
• the ability to work well with others
• the ability to accept criticism and work well under pressure
• knowledge of medicine and dentistry
• patience and the ability to remain calm in stressful situations
• to be able to carry out basic tasks on a computer or hand-held device

What you'll do

Day to day

In this role you could be

• deciding the cause of death by analysing all the available information
• talking to other professionals involved, like the deceased's doctor
• ordering a post-mortem examination if there are questions around the cause of death
• holding an inquest into the death if you believe one is needed
• notifying the registrar about the death, and results of any inquest  
• dealing with upset relatives
• writing reports and recommendations to prevent future deaths

Working environment

You could work in an office, in a court or in an NHS or private hospital.

Career path and progression

Career path & progression

With experience, you can apply for the position of senior coroner, with chief coroner the most senior position. You can also apply to become a course director with the Judicial College.