Public Inquiries

The first and most important thing you should do if you are summoned to appear before a public inquiry is to seek legal advice from a lawyer with specialist knowledge and experience in dealing with these sorts of inquiries.

Your lawyer will be able to guide you along the entire journey, offering the right advice and providing you with the exact steps you need to take to ensure the best possible outcome for your situation.

Yes, your lawyer can help you prepare for a public inquiry even before you are summoned if you believe that you may be summoned in due course. They can help to provide you with a clear understanding of the nature of the public inquiry and offer the advice you need to fully prepare you for when you are eventually summoned.

In doing so, you can increase the likelihood of a favourable inquiry outcome for your situation.

When summoned to appear before a public inquiry, your lawyer will advise you on the best way to ensure you provide an effective testimony.

This will include, but won’t be limited to, advice on the right way to answer any particular questions that you may be asked, as well as how to conduct yourself before the inquiry.

All evidence must be truthful. Any evidence provided that is false or misleading will lead to criminal charges laid against you. Lawyers cannot script or coach you as to what you are to say, however lawyers are able to prepare you concerning what may be expected.

Whether or not it’s possible to appeal the findings of a public inquiry typically depends on the type of inquiry that you are involved in. Unlike the appeals process for criminal charges, there is no instance of a higher court that can review the findings of a public inquiry.

However, there are some circumstances in which, based on the way the public inquiry has been established, there may be avenues available to appeal the decision.

If you’ve appeared before a public inquiry and would like to explore your options for reviewing their final decision, our lawyers can help you to understand your rights and the courses of action available to you based on your circumstances.