Knowing its reputation as one of the best law schools, I was eager to join Duke Law for my master’s degree in environmental law. It did not disappoint. There, I not only deepened my grasp of environmental law but also gained invaluable hands-on experience as a student attorney. That role prepared me for my subsequent clerkship at the Institute for Governance and Sustainable Development, an environmental nonprofit in Washington, D.C.
At IGSD, I worked under the mentorship of renowned environmental lawyers Durwood Zaelke and Tad Ferris, both Duke alumni. My work there exposed me to climate change law, a subfield of environmental law that I had not previously explored in depth, having worked mainly in conservation and forestry law in Kenya. Through various projects, I gained international legal experience in addressing various global environmental challenges.
My advanced legal studies in environmental law, which took root at Duke, have now come full circle as I pursue a doctorate researching waste management law at the University of Reading in the United Kingdom. My research focuses on how the law can prevent environmental dumping – the transboundary transfer of environmentally harmful “near-waste” or toxic products. This is an issue I first encountered at IGSD, and its profound implications for vulnerable communities motivated me to research deeper. Looking back, I see a clear thread connecting each step of my journey – from my experiences at Duke Law, to my work at IGSD, and now my doctoral research. Each experience has been a domino, setting off the next in a chain that continues to shape my career and deepen my passion for environmental law. The pursuit of justice, both environmental and social, continues to guide my work, and I remain committed to finding legal solutions that protect both the planet and the people most affected by its degradation.