Civil Liberties & Inquests | Howells Solicitors
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Civil Liberties & Inquests

Civil Liberties Solicitors based in Sheffield, Barnsley & Rotherham delivering advice in South Yorkshire and Nationwide

When a loved one dies unexpectedly or in circumstances that raise serious questions, families deserve clear answers — not uncertainty, silence, or incomplete information. Inquests play a vital role in protecting civil liberties by ensuring that every death is examined openly, fairly, and with full transparency.

 

They exist to uncover the truth about what happened, provide clarity for grieving families, and shine a light on potential failures within public bodies or healthcare settings.

 

But the inquest process can feel overwhelming, especially when you are coping with grief. It often involves complex procedures, requests for disclosure, and navigating evidence that families should never have to fight for. We are here to change that. Our team supports families throughout the entire process — not just with paperwork, but with full representation, ensuring you are heard at every stage.

 

In some cases, families may need more than an inquest to achieve justice. When public bodies fail to act lawfully, make unreasonable decisions, or refuse to disclose crucial information, judicial review becomes an essential safeguard. It allows families to challenge decisions in the High Court, ensuring state authorities remain transparent, accountable, and compliant with their legal duties.

 

Whether you are seeking disclosure of key documents, representation at an inquest, or support in bringing a judicial review, we stand beside you with empathy, clarity, and unwavering dedication. Our priority is to ensure your rights are protected, your questions are answered, and your loved one’s story is fully and respectfully explored.

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Civil Liberties & Inquests

Our Civil Liberties & Inquest specialists can help with:

Disclosure of Information
Inquest Solicitors
Claims and Complaints Against the Police
Medical Negligence Solicitors
Personal Injury Solicitors

Advice Guides

A Families Guide to Inquests

Coroners Inquests

 

An inquest is a formal, public investigation carried out by a coroner to establish how someone died when the cause of death is unclear, unexplained, sudden, or may involve concerns about the care they received.

 

An inquest aims to answer four key questions:

 

  • Who the deceased was

 

  • When they died

 

  • Where they died

 

  • How they came by their death

 

It is not about blaming anyone or deciding legal responsibility. Instead, it is a fact‑finding process designed to provide clarity, transparency, and answers for families.

 

For many families, an inquest is an important step in understanding what happened to their loved one. Evidence is gathered, witnesses may be called, and public bodies must provide disclosure of relevant information. The findings of an inquest can also play a crucial role in any later legal action, including medical negligence claims.

 

Our inquest solicitors are here to support you through every stage of the process. We will guide you through the inquest procedure so you know exactly what to expect, communicate directly with the Coroner on your behalf, and handle all paperwork while explaining everything clearly in plain, simple language.

 

In the week leading up to the hearing, you will often receive witness statements and medical records, and we will help you understand these documents and identify the key questions that need to be answered. Throughout the process, we keep you fully informed of timescales, answer your questions about the cause of death and the events leading up to it, and arrange full legal representation for the inquest hearing and any pre‑inquest reviews.

 

At the hearing itself, we will question witnesses on your behalf to ensure your loved one’s story is heard and explored with the care and attention it deserves.

 

Find out more on our Inquest Solicitors.

 

Contact us or call us on 0114 2496 648 to book a free assessment today.

 

What is a Judicial Review?

 

Everyone has rights and we expect these to be upheld. But what happens when the people you expect to help you are actually the ones who have left you feeling like you have been wronged?

 

A judicial review is a legal process where a court examines whether a public body — such as a government department, local authority, NHS organisation, police force, prison service, or coroner — has acted lawfully, fairly, and rationally.

 

Judicial review looks at how a decision was made, not whether the court agrees with the decision itself. It focuses on whether the public body:

 

  • Acted within its legal powers (legality)

 

  • Followed a fair process (procedural fairness)

 

  • Made a rational, reasonable decision (rationality)

 

  • Complied with human rights obligations

 

If the court finds the decision was unlawful, it can quash it, order the body to make the decision again properly, or require specific action.

 

Whilst you may feel that you are powerless against such authorities we can help you enforce your rights.

 

Professional legal advice can’t always stop the injustice occurring but it can give help you obtain justice in the end.

 

Free Initial Appointment

 

Do you think you have a claim? Our civil liberties & inquest team offer a free initial appointment on all types of potential claims, big or small. Our compassionate and friendly team will discuss your concerns with you and will let you know as soon as we can whether we can help.

 

Your initial appointment will be made by telephone, offering you complete flexibility. The appointment can be arranged to fit around lunch breaks or work commitments.

 

Contact us or call us on 0114 2496 648 to book a free assessment today.

 

Flexible Appointments

 

We understand that dealing with medical negligence matters can be stressful, and finding time to attend in-person appointments isn’t always easy. That’s why we offer our full range of medical negligence services remotely, offering a more efficient and convenient service. We can offer our medical negligence legal support via telephone or secure remote online meetings.

 

This approach allows you to access expert legal advice from the comfort of your home, without the need to travel or rearrange your schedule. If your case requires a court hearing, many procedural matters are now handled remotely too, ensuring your legal journey is as smooth and accessible as possible.

 

Our remote services are designed to be just as personal and confidential as in-person consultations, with clear communication and full transparency every step of the way. Remote appointments are offered throughout the case, and most correspondence can be handled by email and Howells secure Client Portal.

 

Whether you’re dealing with sensitive medical negligence matters or simply seeking guidance, we ensure a smooth, stress-free experience that puts your needs first. Whilst we appreciate that remote services offer convenience, they may not be suitable for everyone. If you do wish to meet us face to face, you can book an appointment at one of our offices in Sheffield, Barnsley or Rotherham.

The Civil Liberties Team

Our expert team specialises in human rights challenges and has regularly taken cases to the highest level, including the European Court of Human Rights.

 

Our success in challenging the UK government on the retention of DNA and other samples from people who had not been convicted of any crime led to media attention around the world and was recognised as a major victory for human rights.

 

We also have a highly experienced inquests team and have represented many families in their search for truth and justice for loved ones.

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The Howells Solicitors law team are compassionate, down-to-earth and professional, offering you the best expert advice. Get in touch with solicitors in Sheffield, Rotherham, and Barnsley to see how we can help. Fill in the form or give us a call at:

What Do Our
Clients Say?

"My father passed away December 30th 2022 from a series of failures, failures that unfortunately led to my dad passing. Howells Solicitors was recommended to me by a work colleague. They came to visit my mum and I at my parents home, to talk through the options available to us. They were lovely, very caring and understanding of the issues we as family were going through, we never felt rushed or that we had taken too much of their time up. They gave us lots of support and guidance throughout regarding professionals that may need to be contacted to help our case move forward. My mum became terminally ill during our time with Howells, they supported us and gave us the best advice and support to move forward and bring some closure for our family. They were always respectful when discussing monetary terms in regards dads passing and understood the upset this may cause us.

Inquest Client
2024

"Howells have been brilliant since they took over our case. They are very efficient and get the job done. Always reply’s to my emails straight away and pushes to get things done as quickly as possible. Without Howells we wouldn’t be getting the justice our daughter deserves."

Inquest Client
2025

"I can't thank you enough for all the hard work through this claim. You have given me clear direction all the way and has given so much support for myself and my family throughout this entire process. You always made me feel such at ease and comfortable which has made it so much easier to deal with. I would highly recommend again anyone to use Howells for any legal advice - if it wasn't for you none of it would be possible and again i thank you so much!"

Inquest Client
2025

"I have had the privilege having represented by Howells Solicitors on a number of cases varying from Immigration, to Civil and Family law. I cannot overly thankful for work done by this incredible team of people who put service at the forefront of their business."

Civil Law Client
2016

"You have worked tirelessly over the years to represent/defend all sectors of the B.M.E. community through various trials and tribulations. As a community we will always appreciate your and your teams, contributions and righteous endeavours."

Civil Litigation Client
2017

"I would like to give a big thank you to the professionalism of Howells Solicitors; also for all the help, support and advice that was so readily available if further clarification was needed. I would not hesitate to recommend Howells to any other person."

Civil Litigation Client
2022