Cross-party legal reform and human rights organisation working to strengthen the justice system
14/06/2024
We're looking for a Senior Fellow to join us for a 6 month fellowship. This exciting role will work closely with our policy staff to assist with JUSTICE’s workstream on securing access to justice: reviewing the Windrush compensation, EU Settlement Scheme & Afghan Resettlement Schemes.
Find out more info and apply here⚖️
Defend human rights and protect the rule of law in the UK | Work for JUSTICE | Human rights law and charity jobs in London
12/06/2024
We’re disappointed that dismissed the case brought by Victor Nealon & Sam Hallan on the test for compensation for miscarriages of justice. Between them, Mr Nealon & Mr Hallam spent over 24 years in prison for crimes they didn’t commit but were denied any compensation.
They argued once a conviction is overturned, an individual should be presumed innocent. The current test requires those wrongly convicted to prove innocence beyond reasonable doubt to obtain compensation. More than 93% of applicants to the scheme are denied compensation.
The majority of the Grand Chamber did appear to recognise the United Kingdom has a moral obligation to change its position. Importantly, five judges dissented, drawing attention to the fact that most European States provide for compensation after a miscarriage of justice.
Scotland, Ireland, and almost all countries signed up to the ECHR, have schemes that enable miscarriage of justice victims to gain rightful recognition that they should never have been convicted.
Future governments must accept the moral obligation to those wronged by miscarriages of justice, from Victor Nealon & Sam Hallam, to those who suffered as a result of the Post Office scandal.
Those wrongfully convicted and imprisoned should receive the recompense they are entitled to, in an humane, fair and timely way. Read more here
Grand Chamber dismisses application, but recognises devastating impact of wrongful conviction Today, the Grand Chamber of the European Court of Human Rights held that the test for compensation introduced in 2014 (Section 133(1ZA) of the Criminal Justice Act 1988) is compatible with Article 6 (2) of....
11/06/2024
REPORT LAUNCH: Today we publish our latest report 'Beyond the Blame Game' which looks at outsourced public services and their impact on individual rights. We highlight examples of serious rights breaches and make recommendations to improve the protections for individuals.
Our research has found that outsourced services often fail to address the state's legal obligations to individuals, that public authorities are often poor at oversight, there is insufficient assessment of proper value for money, limited transparency and accountability.
We have made a series of practical, evidence-based recommendations to ensure individual rights are put back at the heart of outsourced services. These recommendations include required early engagement with individual service users, a Rights Impact Assessment.
New procurement policy on protecting individual rights, proper protections for individuals in contracts, increased use of independent auditing, proper oversight of local authority contracting and more available data on the performance of services.
We would like to thank the whole Working Party, our chair Sir Gary Hickinbottom and all those who gave their time to support the project, especially who kindly sponsored the Working Party. We look forward to engaging with as many as possible on the recommendations.
Public authorities cannot contract away their legal obligations to individuals - a "hands off" approach to outsourcing does not work. A collaborative approach that focuses on individuals is possible and these recommendations would help bring much needed change
This report makes 31 recommendations to improve every stage of government contracting; including preliminary engagement, the tender process, the contracting stage and contract oversight. These are ambitious but evidence-based recommendations aimed at ensuring that individuals, and their rights, are....
08/05/2024
Applications for our Criminal Justice Lawyer close this Sunday!
The successful candidate will be building on our recent work on racial injustice in the youth criminal justice system and post-conviction decision making, including the parole system and administrative decision-making in prisons, as well as our cross-cutting workstream on the state of the rule of law in the UK.
Find out more on our website.
Defend human rights and protect the rule of law in the UK | Work for JUSTICE | Human rights law and charity jobs in London
19/04/2024
Our Development team is hiring two roles!
- Major Gifts Fundraiser (Deadline 19 May 2024)
- Engagement and Communications Officer (Deadline 16 May 2024)
These two positions are essential to JUSTICE's work - from raising vital funds and creating sustainable income streams, to working with our membership and promoting our work to audiences across the country.
Find out more about these roles on our website, and please share with your networks.
Defend human rights and protect the rule of law in the UK | Work for JUSTICE | Human rights law and charity jobs in London
17/04/2024
JUSTICE invites applications for two six-month legal fellowships. These are paid positions, funded by Linklaters LLP.
The successful applicants will work closely with our legal staff: conducting legal research; providing commentary on draft legislation; assisting with third party interventions (where relevant); and supporting working parties of our membership and other experts exploring critical issues of law reform.
We particularly welcome applications from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic candidates, including from disadvantaged socio-economic backgrounds who expect to face additional barriers in securing a career in law. Given the nature of our work, applications are sought from UK law graduates only.
The JUSTICE team work in a hybrid manner. We have an office space in London however, in-person attendance is currently optional and we welcome applications from individuals based across the UK.
The Legal Fellow will be paid £36,528 per annum, pro rata.
Closing date: Sunday 19 May 2024 at 11:59pm
For more information on the roles and how to apply, please visit our website.
Defend human rights and protect the rule of law in the UK | Work for JUSTICE | Human rights law and charity jobs in London
15/04/2024
We have very serious concerns about the Safety of Rwanda (Asylum and Immigration) Bill - it is an attack on independent judicial scrutiny, contrary to the rule of law and very likely in breach of the UK’s international legal obligations.
In light of these concerns, JUSTICE has written a briefing in support of Lords amendments 1B, 3B and 3C, 6B, 9 and 10B for the reasons set out in this briefing. We urge MPs to support the above amendments and to consider the serious consequences for the rule of law in this country if the Bill is passed unamended.
Read our briefing (and previous work on the Bill) here:
JUSTICE, alongside the Immigration Lawyers Practitioners Association (‘ILPA’) and Freedom from Torture, briefed Parliamentarians on the Safety of Rwanda (Asylum and Immigration) Bill ahead of its Second Reading in the House of Commons. This follows the UK Supreme Court’s unanimous decision in ...
12/04/2024
Join our team!
We are hiring a criminal justice lawyer, for a full-time fixed term 12-month contract, with the possibility of renewal, subject to funding. This provides an exciting opportunity for a practising lawyer with a strong research background or academic lawyers keen to engage in high-level policy and law reform work.
This role will build on our recent work on racial injustice in the youth criminal justice system and post-conviction decision-making, including the parole system and administrative decision-making in prisons, as well as our cross-cutting workstream on the state of the rule of law in the UK. They will also be scoping and setting up a new criminal justice project relating to fraud.
Applications close on 12 May 2024. Learn more and apply on our website.
Please share in your networks.
Defend human rights and protect the rule of law in the UK | Work for JUSTICE | Human rights law and charity jobs in London
10/04/2024
JUSTICE Lawyer Ellen Lefley spoke at a recent LawtechUK event on harnessing emerging technologies to improve access to justice and reduce unmet legal need.
This challenge is part of JUSTICE's work on the potential opportunities and risks of AI, human rights and the law.
Read more in The Law Gazette:
LawtechUK's latest laudable goal is to use artificial intelligence to help improve access to justice. But who is going to design - and pay for - this new ecosystem of online services?
04/04/2024
Are you a lawyer working on Windrush cases? Have you represented someone, previously unrepresented? We want to hear from you!
We are looking for case studies, where individuals made an application without legal representation, and then with legal representation - and the difference this has made.
As part of JUSTICE’s Lessons Learning Project, we convened a working group to look at legal representation in the context of the Windrush Compensation Scheme. The Working Group is looking to evidence the difference legal advice makes to the outcome of applications to the Windrush Compensation Scheme.
Email Şefki Bayram on [email protected] to learn more and share your case studies.
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JUSTICE is an all-party law reform and human rights organisation working to strengthen the justice system – administrative, civil and criminal – in the United Kingdom.
We are a membership organisation, primarily of the legal profession, comprising barristers, solicitors, legal executives, academic lawyers, law students and interested non-lawyers. We work on an all-party basis, seeking to inform debate, frame issues and influence decision-makers from across the political spectrum.
Our vision is of fair, accessible and efficient legal processes, in which the individual’s rights are protected, and which reflect the country’s international reputation for upholding and promoting the rule of law.
We contribute to achieving our vision in three key ways:
Providing evidence-based analysis and proposing practical solutions to law-makers, judges and relevant public servants.
Strengthening the law and legal processes by reference to international and comparative best practice, looking across jurisdictions, across types of law and across the legal profession.
Using the expertise of our membership to strengthen our understanding of the challenges arising in legal practice and of possible solutions, working with them to execute our vision.
