Dr Alice Venn recently launched and led a new project that saw law students, working in partnership with the charity Legal Response International, provide vital pro bono support by researching and developing advice materials during the UN SB62 climate negotiations that took place between 16 – 26 June in Bonn, Germany. We caught up with Alice about her journey into climate law and policy, launching the new project, and spoke with some of the law students involved in the work.
Why did you decide to study law, and how did you come to specialise in environmental law?
I have always had an interest in the environment but through school my skill set was more in humanities and languages rather than the sciences. I enjoyed working independently and researching for essays, so a law degree seemed like a good opportunity to put these skills to use. I studied an LLB in European Law with study aboard in France and Germany at the University of Warwick and took options in public international law, human rights, and environmental law, all of which I loved.
When I was challenged to reflect on how the law could be used to respond to the climate crisis for an essay, I realised that this field offered a unique opportunity to pursue both social and ecological justice.
I specialised in climate justice for my postgraduate degrees, and I now particularly enjoy impact and policy engagement work.
Congratulations on the launch of the Law School Climate Action Committee and Climate Justice Pro Bono Project! Tell us about the project, what did the law students work on and what was the impact of their support?
I set up the project in partnership with Legal Response International (LRI), a charity that provides pro bono advice and capacity building support to developing countries and civil society organisations participating in the UN climate negotiations.
During this time, law students worked in teams of two alongside volunteer lawyers from leading firms, researching and developing advice materials in response to requests coming into LRI’s ‘situation room’ in their London office during the SB62 intersessional negotiations in June.
The calibre of the student applications we received for the pilot project was excellent. Our first four participating students for the June negotiations, Layla Draris, Emma Proudlove, Rorie Williams and Thi Ngoc Mai Nguyen, all demonstrated incredible commitment and enthusiasm.
The support the students provided represents an important contribution to making the UN climate negotiations more just by helping to address procedural inequity in the processes. This work enables states that are most affected by climate impacts to have access to free legal support and to shape the negotiations outcomes more effectively.
I hope to continue to build on the success of the pilot project to establish a climate justice pro bono initiative in the School for years to come.
What is your advice for students interested in specialising in environmental law?
If you are interested in climate and environmental law, don’t be afraid to pursue this and to think about work experience and career opportunities beyond the traditional training contract routes. There are some great internships and training opportunities with specialist firms, environmental law enforcement bodies like the Office for Environmental Protection, environmental NGOs, and international organisations.
Consider optional units and research projects that will allow you to explore environmental interests in more depth, for example through an independent research project or dissertation. We have a range of modules available for students wishing to specialise, including Environmental Law, Legal Perspectives on Sustainability, and Climate Law.
A number of units are also integrating climate and sustainability-focused topics into their offering, including Public and Global Health Law, and Human Rights in Law, Politics and Society. We have pro bono opportunities, the Law School Climate Action Committee and some brilliant student societies that you can get involved with.
Students Emma Proudlove and Thi Ngoc Mai Nguyen reflected on their experience working on the Climate Justice Pro Bono Project:
Emma Proudlove, Final-Year LLB Student, said:
“Participating in the situation room gave me a great insight into the work of LRI during the climate negotiations and their vital role in promoting climate justice! I really enjoyed completing a research task and collaborating with the team to help the negotiators.
The experience has solidified my interest in environmental law and felt very rewarding!”
Thi Ngoc Mai Nguyen, International Law LLM Student, said:
“Participating in the Climate Justice Pro Bono Project with Legal Response International (LRI) at Simmons & Simmons has been a profoundly enriching professional experience during my Master’s journey.
Working with legal texts and interventions related to the 62nd session of the UNFCCC Subsidiary Bodies (SB 62), held in Bonn (Germany) in June 2025, as part of The Bonn Climate Change Conference, has significantly sharpened my analytical thinking and deepened my understanding of the complex legal architecture governing international climate negotiations.
This opportunity not only expanded my horizons but also reinforced my commitment to advancing climate justice and sustainability through informed, law-based approaches. It has truly been an inspiring and intellectually stimulating journey that has strengthened my perception of the critical role international law plays in responding to the climate crisis.
I want to express my deepest gratitude to Dr. Alice Venn for guiding us through this meaningful and empowering journey, and for her invaluable insights on climate justice throughout the project.”
Find out more
For students interested in joining the Law School Climate Action Committee and Climate Justice Pro Bono Project, please contact Dr Alice Venn.
Visit our Centre for Environmental Law and Sustainability, and see the centre’s Student Opportunities pages to find out more about our undergraduate and postgraduate environmental law courses.