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Coroner’s Court
Inquests
Representation of families and interested persons in the Coroner’s Court — pre-inquest review hearings through to the substantive inquest.
Police station
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Astons Law Chambers attends police stations at any hour. The call comes before the interview.
How attendance works →Available 24/7 for police station support.
- Hourly
- £175–£400 +VAT
- First appearance
- £500–£1,500
- Single day hearing
- £700–£3,500
- Trial brief fee
- £1,500–£3,000+
Indicative only. A written fee is set out in a client-care letter before any instruction is accepted. Full fee schedule →
What Astons Law Chambers does
- Pre-inquest review hearings and scope arguments.
- Examination of witnesses at the substantive inquest.
- Article 2 inquest representation.
- Disclosure review and documentary preparation.
Process
- A short call to identify the type of inquest, the issues, and any next hearing date.
- A written client-care letter setting out scope and fee.
- Disclosure review and preparation of position, witnesses, and questions.
- Representation at the pre-inquest review and the substantive hearing.
Instructing directly
A solicitor is not required for this work.
Astons Law Chambers is authorised under the Bar Standards Board's Public Access scheme to accept instructions directly from members of the public. Suitability is assessed during the first call; where a solicitor is needed, Astons Law Chambers will say so and refer where useful.
How Direct Access works →Common questions
- Can a family instruct directly?
- Yes. Inquest instructions are accepted under the Direct Access scheme where suitable. The first call covers whether the case is.
- What is a pre-inquest review?
- It is the procedural hearing that fixes the scope, witnesses, and timetable for the substantive inquest. Position before the PIR matters.
- Is legal aid available for inquests?
- In some cases, yes — typically through a solicitor with a legal aid contract. Astons Law Chambers can refer where this is the right route.