Nottingham City Council (the Lead Authority) is seeking to appoint three new Assistant Coroners to support the Senior and Area Coroners across the full range of coroner duties in order to deliver a high-quality coroner service to the people of Nottingham and Nottinghamshire.

We are inviting applications from coroners and lawyers with previous experience of conducting complex hearings, specifically Article 2 and jury inquests, in the capacity of either an existing Assistant Coroner, or as a lawyer representing Interested Persons. Successful candidates must have sufficient familiarity with these inquests to be able to undertake the planning and hearing of these complex cases competently and confidently. Furthermore, it is likely that those appointed will be expected to sit for periods of at least two successive weeks by prior arrangement with the Senior Coroner.

If not already appointed as a coroner, successful candidates will be required to attend a mandatory Assistant Coroner Induction training course on 2-3 December 2025.

About the post:

Nottingham City Council is looking for exceptional candidates with excellent proven organisational, management and efficiency skills, as well as experience of exercising sound judgement and communicating effectively. You will work closely with the Senior Coroner and Area Coroner to ensure the running of an efficient coroner service that puts the bereaved at the heart of its service.

You will be required to demonstrate knowledge and experience of coroner law and of basic medicine, have proven skills in conducting investigations, and an understanding of court procedure. You will also need to demonstrate the excellent communication and interpersonal skills necessary to deal with sensitive situations.

The successful candidate will be required to carry out the duties and responsibilities of a coroner as defined in the Coroners and Justice Act 2009 and associated rules and regulations and as further described in various guidance issued by the Chief Coroner.

These are fee paid positions although they are likely to involve a regular commitment, which is to be agreed between the Assistant Coroner, Senior Coroner and the local authority. Assistant Coroners are required to sit a minimum of 20 days a year. Given the nature of the caseload, we list complex and jury cases for PIRH and final inquest hearing many months in advance, allowing the successful candidate plenty of notice to accommodate sitting alongside their professional commitments.

The successful candidate will be a barrister or a solicitor or Fellow of the Institute of Legal Executives and satisfy the judicial-appointment eligibility condition which means they will have 5 years of experience whilst holding that qualification. They will be under the age of 75 and be subject to the appointment and eligibility conditions within the Coroners and Justice Act 2009 (s.23 and Schedule 3).

It is essential that you have experience of sitting as a coroner with conduct of Article 2/Jury inquests, or experience as a solicitor or barrister regularly instructed to represent Interested Persons in such cases and with sufficient competence to take on a caseload of this nature.

Salary - fee paid, £500.00 per day in line with the JNC Coroners Circular 69