Dr Terry McGuinness

Terry's doctoral thesis responds to a lack of research on coroners in England and Wales. With the support of the Chief Coroner, he and Professor Cheryl Thomas conducted the Coroner Attitude Survey 2020, the first major quantitive survey of the backgrounds, attitudes and experiences of all coroners in England and Wales.

It produced a detailed demographic profile of the coronership; discovered coroners' attitudes towards their role in the administration of justice; and allowed Terry to compare coroners' experiences of their working lives with those of other judges.

Terry's thesis argues that the coroner's court should be considered part of the system of administrative justice in England and Wales. He found that coroners are committed to their important and often difficult work, but that the structure, resources and legislation that shape the contemporary coroner service limit coroners' ability to provide accountability in practice as well as in theory.

Terry's doctoral research was supported by a research scholarship awarded by the Faculty of Laws at UCL.

What is Terry doing now?

Dr Terry McGuinness is a barrister with expertise in the investigation of deaths, particularly those that follow police contact and the use of restraint. 

Terry is the legal adviser to the Master of the Rolls and the lead data lawyer in the Judicial Office. He is an associate member of Garden Court Chambers and a fellow of the European Law Institute.