A project has been launched to encourage the public and those exposed to the legal system to collabarate using social media to share their experiences of a week in the life of the law in Scotland.

The "Open Justice Project" wants to provide a snapshot of the state of the law in 2012.

"The aim is to get writers, legal professionals and members of the public to collabarate using social media to share their experiences of a week in the life of the legal system," a statement accompanying the launch said.

"Our goal is to publish accounts from all levels of justice, from the lowest courts to the highest, inviting lawyers, journalists, members of the public and offenders to write, blog and tweet about what really goes on in our courts."

The project has been organised by court reporter and co-organiser of the Scottish Press Club Cristiana Theodoli (@_cric_) and James Doleman, creator of the Tommy Sheridan Trial blog.

"A fundamental principle of law is: 'Not only must justice be done; it must also be seen to be done.' Lord Hewart said this in 1924, 88 years later the question is: Does this still hold true?" the group said. 

"The dedicated court reporter is becoming a thing of the past and the press, unaided, does not have the resources to be the eyes and the ears of the public at all times.

"At the same time new technology creates a channel that potentially allowes an increased transparency and better access across the whole legal system to strenghten public oversight."

The group have invited those interested to contact them at openjusticeuk@gmail.com or on twitter @oj_uk