UN Climate Change Consultant and law graduate, Alexia Kaplan (LLM 2025) shares her reflections on how the LLM Law, Environment, Sustainability and Business provided her with an excellent grounding for a career in environmental law ̶ and her advice for anyone considering studying an LLM at Bristol.
What makes Bristol a good city to study law?
I can think of no better city to learn about environmental law than Bristol, given the strides that the city of Bristol has taken and continues to take in caring for the environment, including its goal of becoming carbon neutral by 2030, and with the Bristol City Council being the first UK council to declare a climate emergency for the city.
The importance that is ascribed to the climate crisis by both the city of Bristol, and specifically the University of Bristol, aligns with this masters programme in environmental law and there are a lot of initiatives, organisations and people working in this space in the city of Bristol.
What was your favourite thing about studying your LLM programme?
I really enjoyed meeting such a diverse range of people from different places and backgrounds but who were all passionate about the same issues and topics as I was. This really enriched my experience because it meant that the discussions during seminars as well as outside of the classroom were very interesting and relevant to my degree.
What were some of the highlights of your studies and how did the LLM help you on your career path?
During my studies I really enjoyed the experience of being a Student Team Leader for the Human Rights Law Clinic through the Human Rights Implementation Centre, and contributing to the work of human rights organisations.
I was also a member of the University of Bristol’s Climate Action Plan Committee and I helped to organise and spoke at an event for students on career opportunities in climate change and environmental law.
The LLM Environmental Law programme provided me with an excellent foundation of environmental and sustainability law, governance and policy, which helped me to achieve my future goals.
Tell us about your current role and what you have done since graduating?
I am currently working for the United Nations Climate Change Secretariat (UNFCCC), as a consultant in the Adaptation division’s Loss and Damage Unit.
The unit supports the Executive Committee of the Warsaw International Mechanism on Loss and Damage and its five thematic expert groups, which each focus on a specific area of loss and damage, namely Slow Onset Events, Non-Economic Losses, Human Mobility/Displacement, Comprehensive Risk Management and Action and Support. Currently, my work spans all five workstreams, with a particular focus on supporting the work of the Task Force on Displacement.
My interest in the loss and damage policy agenda was first sparked by what I learnt in my Climate Law and Environmental Law courses. I wrote a few assignments and articles as well as my dissertation on this topic, under the guidance of some fantastic lecturers and my supervisor who encouraged and supported my learning development on this area.
Coming from South Africa, where the devastating impacts of climate change are already so apparent and disproportionately impacting the most vulnerable, the loss and damage policy agenda is something I feel very passionate about.
This led me to apply for an internship with the UNFCCC, which I did over the summer while I was writing my dissertation. It was hard work balancing both my studies and doing the internship full time, but this experience turned out to be invaluable.
I feel very fortunate to be working in the climate change space, on something that not only gives me purpose, but I hope will also allow have a positive social and environmental impact.
Congratulations on receiving your prize for best overall performance in the LLM Programme! How did it feel to win the award?
I feel so honoured to have been awarded the prize for the best overall performance in the LLM Programme. This award is a wonderful acknowledgment and validation of my decision to study this LLM and move across the world, from South Africa to the UK, and to follow my passion for environmental justice. I am extremely grateful to the University of Bristol, my lecturers and supervisor, my family and the friends I made during my studies, who have all inspired and guided me every step of the way.
What advice do you have for anyone considering studying the LLM in Environment, Sustainability and Business at Bristol?
I would really recommend this programme and I would say that it will be what you make of it.
Go to as many relevant sounding events as you can, join societies and apply for extra-curricular activities that sound interesting to you, meet lots of people and just generally take initiative and venture out of your comfort zone because it is amazing what happens when you follow your passion.
Find out more about the LLM Law, Environment, Sustainability and Business.