Dr Laura Janes KC (Hon) appointed PRT fellow
The Prison Reform Trust (PRT) is delighted to announce the appointment of Dr Laura Janes KC (Hon) as a PRT fellow. In the new role, Laura will assist PRT in responding to developments in youth justice policy. She will also provide ad hoc support to PRT in its wider work on criminal justice policy and legislation.
Commenting on her appointment, Laura said:
“I am delighted to take up this role and support the valuable work of the Prison Reform Trust at a time when there has never been a greater need for ambitious reform.”
Pia Sinha, chief executive of the Prison Reform Trust, said:
“We are thrilled that Laura is taking on this important role at the Prison Reform Trust to assist with our work on children. Laura is an acknowledged expert on youth justice and will add real strength to our work in this area. We have worked closely with Laura across a number of criminal justice bills and her support has been invaluable in achieving policy change. We are delighted to have her on board as a PRT fellow.”
Biography
Laura is a solicitor specialising in prison law, criminal appeals, community care, mental health and public law. She has particular expertise in representing children, young adults and vulnerable people in detention in both penal and mental health settings. She was appointed an Honorary KC in March 2025.
Laura is a consultant solicitor at Scott-Moncrieff & Associates Ltd and GT Stewart Solicitors & Advocates.
Laura is a visiting academic at South Bank University in the law department. She has a professional doctorate in youth justice.
Laura is a board member the Legal Aid Practitioners’ Group and a trustee of Hammersmith and Fulham Law Centre in her capacity as a councillor in Hammersmith and Fulham. She is also a trustee of the National Association for Youth Justice.
She is the chair of the Association of Prison Lawyers. She is also a committee member for the Mental Health Lawyers’ Association, the Criminal Appeal Lawyers’ Association and the Law Society’s Criminal Law Committee.
Laura founded Young Legal Aid Lawyers in 2005 and she received both the 2010 Liberty Human Rights Young Person of the Year award and the 2009 Young Legal Aid Lawyer of the year award on behalf of the group. In 2006 she was named Young Legal Aid Solicitor of the year. In 2012 she was listed by the Guardian as a lawyer to watch. In 2019, Laura was awarded Solicitor of the Year by the First 100 Years’ Inspirational Women in Law Awards. Laura worked at the Howard League for Penal Reform from 2005 to 2022 and was its legal director from 2017 to 2022.
