Area Coroner

Job Details:

Job Reference: HCC623729
Salary Range: £117,419 per annum (2026/27 pay award pending)
Work Location: Castle Hill, Winchester 
Hours per week: 37
Contract Type: Permanent
Closing Date: 10 May 2026
Interview Date: 25 June 2026

Hampshire County Council is seeking to appoint an Area Coroner. This is to replace the current post-holder who leaves in September 2026.

The Role:

The Area Coroner will work closely with the Senior Coroner to provide judicial leadership to the coroner team as well as conducting their own coroner investigations and inquests. The area coroner is the nominated deputy for the Senior Coroner when the Senior Coroner is absent. The Area Coroner will be expected on occasion to be available out of hours on a rota based system. 

What you’ll do:

Hampshire County Council is looking for an exceptional candidate with excellent proven organisational, management and efficiency skills, as well as experience of exercising sound judgement and communicating effectively. In this role, you will work closely with the Senior Coroner and local authority to ensure the running of an efficient coroner service that puts the bereaved at the heart of the service. Collaborative working with the Senior Coroner, local authority, the police and other stakeholders is essential. 

What we’re looking for:

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.  

It is desirable that the successful candidate has proven experience of running or sharing running a coroner’s jurisdiction including carrying out investigations, case management, and conducting inquests. 

Who can apply:

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 five years of experience whilst holding that qualification. You will be under the age of 75, have experience of working as an assistant coroner or area coroner and be subject to the appointment and eligibility conditions within the Coroners and Justice Act 2009 (s.23 and Schedule 3).

Statutory Terms of the Appointment: 
Once a Coroner is appointed they are then a Judicial Office holder until they reach the age of 75 years (compulsory retirement age) unless they choose to resign or are removed by the Lord Chief Justice or Lord Chancellor prior to their 75th birthday. 

Additional Information:

Area Coroner Candidate Pack

Please note this post is Politically Restricted.

Suitably qualified applicants are required to complete the application form on Hampshire County Councils Recruitment portal.

Vetting Requirements:

This post is subject to a Criminal Records Check.

Contact Details for an Informal Discussion:

Samantha Whiting, Head of Coroner’s Service on samantha.whiting@hants.gov.uk