Danielle Andrade, Jamaica

LLM in Environmental Law 2009-2010

"Before coming to Queen Mary, I was working as an Attorney-at-law for an environmental non-government organisation in Jamaica. I realised that I needed a better understanding of international environmental law to appreciate environmental policy and decision-making in my country and to become a more effective advocate.

In 2009, I received a British Chevening Scholarship to pursue an LLM in Environmental Law in the United Kingdom. Queen Mary, University of London, with its excellent reputation, was an obvious choice. Located in London, the “hub” of Environmental Law in the United Kingdom, Queen Mary offers courses with exceptional academic lecturers and comprehensive legal resources through respected institutions such as the Institute of Advanced Legal Studies. I also benefited from having guest lectures from respected and skilled practitioners in the environmental law field and being able to choose from cross-cutting courses such as ‘Challenging Public Power: Advanced Administrative Law’ and others relating to trade, human rights and development. I am also having a fantastic experience studying in a diverse community where I continue to meet wonderful and engaging young professionals committed to public interest environmental law. I am currently working with some of these students to organise the 4th Annual Public Interest Environmental Law Conference, the UK's only student-led conference of its kind. Queen Mary has allowed me to grow and develop and I am excited about the prospect of returning to Jamaica and putting into practice what I have learnt."