Relational legal consciousness and mobilisation of the law of the inquest in England and Wales

This paper explores the legal consciousness of bereaved people in contact with the coroner system in England and Wales, drawing on an interview-based empirical study. Informed by socio-legal scholarship on relational dimensions of legal consciousness and citizens’ mobilisation of the law, the paper analyses the relationships within and through which bereaved people mobilise the law of the inquest in pursuit of change. Three key relational approaches to mobilisation are identified: the bereaved act ‘for’ others, including the deceased, wider family and other bereaved people; they act collaboratively ‘with’ others, including family, friends and professionals; and they act ‘upon’ others in challenging professional and institutional practices and wider structures deemed to be implicated in the death. This study represents the first application of the concept of legal consciousness to the coronial jurisdiction. It thereby contributes to understanding of the dynamic and interactive co-creation of legal consciousness in high-stakes legal encounters.