''The Justice Gap'' is an online UK-based magazine "about the law and justice and the difference between the two". The magazine was set up in 2011 by Jon Robins, a journalist and a lecturer in criminology at

Brighton University The University of Brighton is a public university based in Brighton on the south coast of England. Its roots can be traced back to 1858 when the Brighton School of Art was opened in the Royal Pavilion. It achieved university status in 1992. Th ...

, who remains its editor. Robins is also the author of books including ''The Justice Gap: Whatever Happened to Legal Aid?'' (Legal Action Group, 2008; with Steve Hynes), ''Guilty Until Proven Innocent: The Crisis in Our Justice System'' (

Biteback Publishing Biteback Publishing is a British publisher based in Hull, and concentrating mainly on political titles. It was incorporated, as a private limited company with share capital, in 2009. It was jointly owned by its managing director Iain Dale and ...

, 2018) and ''Justice in a Time of Austerity'' (

Bristol University Press The University of Bristol is a public research university in Bristol, England. It received its royal charter in 1909, although it can trace its roots to a Merchant Venturers' school founded in 1595 and University College, Bristol, which had ...

, 2021; with Dan Newman). In collaboration with four universities –

Cardiff University Cardiff University () is a public research university in Cardiff, Wales. It was established in 1883 as the University College of South Wales and Monmouthshire and became a founding college of the University of Wales in 1893. It was renamed Unive ...

Glasgow University The University of Glasgow (abbreviated as ''Glas.'' in post-nominals; ) is a public research university in Glasgow, Scotland. Founded by papal bull in , it is the fourth-oldest university in the English-speaking world and one of Scotland's four ...

Manchester University The University of Manchester is a public university, public research university in Manchester, England. The main campus is south of Manchester city centre, Manchester City Centre on Wilmslow Road, Oxford Road. The University of Manchester is c ...

and

University College London University College London (Trade name, branded as UCL) is a Public university, public research university in London, England. It is a Member institutions of the University of London, member institution of the Federal university, federal Uni ...

– ''The Justice Gap'' runs a news reporting scheme that is open to students with an interest in journalism and who have a commitment to human rights. An aim of ''The Justice Gap'' is to broaden the discussion about law and justice, and to feature voices and perspectives not normally heard in the debate. ''The Justice Gap'' produces a print magazine called ''Proof'', which has had contributions from professionals including

Helena Kennedy Helena Ann Kennedy, Baroness Kennedy of The Shaws (born 12 May 1950), is a Scottish barrister, Television presenter, broadcaster, and Labour Party (UK), Labour member of the House of Lords. She was Principal (academia), Principal of Mansfield Col ...

QC, Martha Spurrier, Lord Tony Gifford,

David Conn David Conn is an investigative journalist who writes for ''The Guardian''. He won the Paul Foot Award for investigations into Conservative peer Michelle Mone, who profited from the PPE contracts during the COVID-19 pandemic. He attended Bur ...

, and others. Among contributors to ''The Justice Gap'' have been leading campaigning lawyers, such as

Michael Mansfield Michael Mansfield (born 12 October 1941) is an English barrister and head of chambers at Nexus Chambers. He was recently described as "The king of human rights work" by The Legal 500 and as a leading Silk in civil liberties and human rights ( ...

QC, prominent journalists who include

Ian Cobain Ian Cobain (born 1960) is a British journalist. Cobain is best known for his investigative journalism into human rights abuses committed by the British government post-9/11, the secrecy surrounding the British state and the legacy of the North ...

Bob Woffinden Robert Woffinden (31 January 1948 – 1 May 2018) was a British investigative journalist. Formerly a reporter with the ''New Musical Express'', he later specialised in investigating miscarriages of justice. He wrote about a number of high-profi ...

and

David Jessel David Greenhalgh Jessel (born 8 November 1945) is a British former TV and radio news presenter, author, and campaigner against miscarriages of justice. From 2000 to 2010, he was also a commissioner of the Criminal Cases Review Commission. Backgr ...

, as well as academics and other high-profile commentators. The site has also run interviews with leading members of the legal profession (for example, former Court of Appeal judge Henry Brooke,

David Runciman David Walter Runciman, 4th Viscount Runciman of Doxford (born 1 March 1967), is an English academic and podcaster who until 2024 taught politics and history at the University of Cambridge, where he was Professor of Politics. From October 2014 t ...

of the Royal Commission on Criminal Justice, and

Michael Zander Michael Zander, King's Counsel, KC, Fellow of the British Academy, FBA, (born 16 November 1932 in Berlin) is a British legal scholar. He is Professor Emeritus of Law at the London School of Economics and Political Science, and the author of sev ...

QC); with politicians including former Lord Chancellor

Charlie Falconer Charles Leslie Falconer, Baron Falconer of Thoroton, (born 19 November 1951) is a British Labour politician, peer and barrister who served as Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice under Prime Minister Tony Blair from 2003 to 20 ...

; with London mayor

Sadiq Khan Sir Sadiq Aman Khan (, ; born 8 October 1970) is a British politician serving as Mayor of London since 2016. He was previously Member of Parliament (United Kingdom), Member of Parliament (MP) for Tooting (UK Parliament constituency), Tooting ...

; with campaigners Paddy Hill,

Peter Tatchell Peter Gary Tatchell (born 25 January 1952) is an Australian-born British human rights campaigner, best known for his work with LGBT social movements. Tatchell was selected as the Labour Party (UK), Labour Party's Parliament of the United Kingdo ...

and advocacy group

Liberty Liberty is the state of being free within society from oppressive restrictions imposed by authority on one's way of life, behavior, or political views. The concept of liberty can vary depending on perspective and context. In the Constitutional ...

Shami Chakrabarti Sharmishta Chakrabarti, Baroness Chakrabarti (born 16 June 1969) is a British politician, barrister, and human rights activist. A member of the Labour Party, she served as the director of Liberty, a major advocacy group which promotes civil l ...

and Martha Spurrier; as well as with film producers

Jimmy McGovern James Stanley McGovern (born September 1949) is an English screenwriter and producer. He is best known for creating the drama series '' Cracker'' (1993–1995), for which he received two Edgar Awards from the Mystery Writers of America. He als ...

and

Ken Loach Kenneth Charles Loach (born 17 June 1936) is a retiredhttps://variety.com/2024/film/global/ken-loach-retirement-the-old-oak-jonathan-glazer-oscars-speech-1235956589/ English filmmaker. His socially critical directing style and socialist views ar ...

, and broadcaster

Paul Gambaccini Paul Matthew Gambaccini (born 2 April 1949) is an American-British radio and television presenter and author. He is a dual citizen of the United States and United Kingdom, having become a British citizen in 2005. Known as "The Great Gambo" and ...

References

External links

Official website
* Julia Salasky
"Reporting on the "justice gap": an interview with Jon Robins"
CrowdJustice, 31 July 2015 2011 establishments in the United Kingdom Law of the United Kingdom Legal magazines Magazines established in 2011 {{law-mag-stub