John Taggart

Dr. John Taggart is a Lecturer in Law at Queen's University Belfast, affiliated with the School of Law and the Institute of Criminology and Criminal Justice (ICCJ). He holds a first-class honours degree in Law from Queen's, an LLM (Distinction) from City University London, and a PhD in Law from the London School of Economics (LSE). His research focuses on criminal process, criminal justice, and socio-legal approaches to criminal law, particularly addressing vulnerable individuals within the justice system.

• Education:
  • Bachelor of Law (First Class Honours), Queen's University Belfast
  • Certificate in Professional Legal Practice, Institute of Professional Legal Studies (QUB)
  • LLM (Distinction), City University London
  • PhD in Law, London School of Economics (LSE)
• Roles:
  • Lecturer in Criminal Law and Evidence
  • Careers and Employability Officer, School of Law
  • Theme Lead for 'Vulnerable Accused' (British Society of Criminology)

His research explores special measures in criminal courts, intermediary roles for vulnerable court users, and effective participation in police custody. Collaborations include the Department of Justice (Northern Ireland), Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI), and Public Prosecution Service (PPS). He is a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy and speaks Spanish at B2 level.

Awards include the Academic Consultant role (2023), AHRC Impact Acceleration Account (2025), and QUB Strategic Research Equipment Fund (2025). His work contributes to UN Sustainable Development Goals focused on justice and equity.