What does a coroner do?

As a coroner, you could: hold an inquest into a death if you think one is needed collect evidence, witness statements and details surrounding a death order a post-mortem if you have questions about the cause of death explain the inquest process and findings to bereaved families in clear terms notify the registrar…

How much does a coroner earn?

Starter salaries are around £102,000 a year, rising to about £153,000 with experience.

How many hours does a coroner work?

Typically 37 to 40 hours a week.

Coroner

Coroners investigate deaths where the causes are unexplained, where violence is suspected or where people have died while in custody.

Also known as: Coroner's assistant, area coroner, senior coroner

Starter salary£102,000 a year
Experienced£153,000 a year
Typical hours37 to 40 a week

What you'll do

As a coroner, you could:

hold an inquest into a death if you think one is needed
collect evidence, witness statements and details surrounding a death
order a post-mortem if you have questions about the cause of death
explain the inquest process and findings to bereaved families in clear terms
notify the registrar about the death and results of any inquest
deputise for the senior coroner when required
write reports and make recommendations to prevent future deaths

Working environment

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

Your working environment may be emotionally demanding.

Skills and knowledge you'll need

You'll need:

sensitivity and understanding
to be thorough and pay attention to detail
the ability to think clearly using logic and reasoning
legal knowledge including court procedures and government regulations
the ability to work well with others
excellent verbal communication skills
excellent written communication skills
patience and the ability to remain calm in stressful situations
to be able to use a computer and the main software packages confidently

How to become a coroner

You can get into this job by applying directly.

Direct application

You need to be an assistant coroner before you can apply for the position of coroner.

To apply for an assistant coroner job, you need at least 5 years' experience as either a:

qualified barrister or solicitor
Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Legal Executive

Restrictions and requirements

You'll need to:

pass enhanced background checks

Career path and progression

With experience, you can apply for the position of senior coroner. After that you could apply for the position of chief coroner, with overall responsibility for running the coroner's service in England and Wales.

You can also apply to become a course director with the Judicial College .

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Law & Legal: pay, interviews and getting started →

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