Laura John joined the Human Rights Law Centre in November 2023, working in migration justice. She has extensive experience in defending the rights of people seeking asylum and refugees across the community legal sector, which is complemented by her experience within government.
As a senior lawyer at the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre, Laura managed a team of lawyers and maintained a complex caseload of asylum seekers seeking protection, including those in immigration detention. She has also worked as a lawyer at Refugee Legal and was a short-term consultant to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, working on the development of the Global Compact on Refugees.
Laura commenced her legal practice at Australian Government Solicitor, where she specialised in migration, international law and constitutional law. She was the recipient of the George Witynski SC Academic Scholarship in 2018 and awarded Graduate of the Year across the Australian Public Service in 2015. Immediately prior to joining the Human Rights Law Centre, she worked as Counsel Assisting the Victorian Solicitor-General, Rowena Orr KC.
Laura holds a Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Law (Honours) from Monash University and a Master of International Law (with Commendation) from the Australian National University. Outside work, she serves on the boards of Democracy in Colour and the Women’s Legal Service Victoria, and enjoys reading children’s books to shelter animals as a volunteer at the RSPCA.
Labor’s deportation bill will only create an endless roundabout between immigration detention and prison
The Guardian 27 March 2024