Report comment

"Government departments might also be asked ‘to look at their own instruction of lawyers and whether they need the number they instruct'."

Again, the MOJ review has already concluded there is very little that could be done to "de-lawyer" when it comes to public bodies' representation at inquests.

If the MOJ have concluded that not much can be done, what realistic chance is there that e.g. the MOD or the NHS will themselves conclude that they don't actually need lawyers?

As for reminding public bodies of their duty of candour - they shouldn't need reminding. If the duty of candour has slipped their mind, then it obviously suggests the overall culture is pretty poor; a simple reminder from the MOJ is unlikely to be that effective. There are unfortunately already countless examples where state organisations have avoided such candour (to put it mildly).