Law Kate Handley Job history 2021–Present Co-founder Biodiversity Law Centre 2019–Present Environmental Law Consultant Cullinan & Associates 2016–Present Western Cape Representative Environmental Law Association of South Africa 2015–2019 Attorney Nicholas Smith Attorneys
Academic history 2014–2016 LLM in Environmental Law University of Cape Town 2009–2010 LLB University of Cape Town 2006–2008 BSocSc specialising in Industrial and Organisational Psychology and Law Rhodes University
2014–2015 Associate Assheton-Smith Ginsberg Inc
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Describe your job – what do you do?
How have your degrees helped in your career?
I am an environmental attorney. I currently work as a consultant for a law firm, providing advice to a variety of clients in the private, public and NGO sectors on a range of environmental law topics.
In order to be a lawyer, you have to study an LLB. My degree was therefore a prerequisite to the career I wanted to follow. I also wanted to pursue environmental law as a particular specialisation, and the LLM in this field assisted me in gaining a deeper understanding of this area of law, as well as building a network of other environmental lawyers, many of whom I have worked with.
One of the reasons I love my job is that the matters I work on, and what I therefore do, differ daily. I have worked for renewable energy developers assisting them with navigating the laws they need to comply with to build solar and wind farms. I have helped NGOs fight big corporations looking to conduct oil and gas drilling off the South African coast. I have helped clients comment on proposed new legislation relating to wildlife management. My work involves a large amount of reading and research, as well as consulting with clients and advocates (who we appoint to argue litigation matters in court).
What has been a highlight of your career so far? Founding a new law clinic, the Biodiversity Law Centre. Its purpose is to use the law to reverse the catastrophic decline of biodiversity in Southern Africa. It is an ongoing project and it has been a huge challenge, but I am passionate about working with purpose.
