Support criteria

Assessment of Cases

We will work with you to find the best outcome. The level of assistance offered will be based on your circumstances. If you meet our core criteria (detailed below), we could provide advice on what happens at inquest generally, we could seek representation for an inquest, or we could support you to challenge a decision.

If you do not meet our core criteria, we may offer preliminary advice on the basis of the information you have sent to us, and connect you to other agencies to assist.

Core Criteria

These are the areas we will consider when working out if we can take on your case.

  • There appears to be significant clinical or safety issues affecting disabled people that need to be addressed.

  • There appears to be a significant patient safety/public interest concern.

  • This may be because a solicitor can’t be found who will take your case on and you are unable to pay privately.

  • This is based on capacity and logistics, such as the timing and location of the inquest. We will consider inquests anywhere in England and Wales.

  • We work with specialist barristers, who take on pro bono inquest cases. Sometimes it is not possible to find one who is available.

  • The person agreeing to our terms and conditions could be you or another family member, depending on who is the primary contact. Read our terms and conditions here.

  • We will prioritise cases where, in addition to the core criteria being met, the family representative faces additional barriers to justice because of disablement or literacy challenges.

A close up image of hands holding each other. Seemingly in an act of emotional support

Get in touch if you think you fit our core criteria

We understand the difficult circumstances families of those who have died are facing.

Please make a referral if you believe your case fits our core criteria.

How it works if we take on your case

Terms & Conditions

If we work with you, you will be asked to sign Rachel’s Voice terms and conditions. As we are staffed by volunteers, who work within legal practices, you will also be asked to sign the terms and conditions of the law firm or practice where the volunteer works.

Contact

You will be contacted by a member of Rachel’s Voice by email to arrange a time to speak with you. They will have seen your completed form and documents, so you won't have to explain everything again from scratch.

We will contact you within two weeks of receiving your information.

Additional information

We offer our services on a pro bono basis - that means they are free. Sometimes, however, there are expenses that could arise such as the costs of travel for barristers or the costs of obtaining reports. You may be asked if you can afford to cover this expenditure.

If we cannot take on your case, there are other organisations that offer inquest advice and support such as Inquest and AvMA. Like Rachel's Voice, they have specific criteria as to which cases they will work on.