August 19th, 2024
ELF member spotlight: Alex Shattock
Alex Shattock is a barrister at Landmark Chambers specialising in environmental, public and planning law. He does a lot of work for green NGOs and campaigners, and has worked on cases involving climate change, pollution, habitats, pesticide regulation, environmental protests, and animal rights. His recent work includes acting for Friends of the Earth in the Cumbria coal mine legal challenge and acting for WWF-UK and ClientEarth in a legal complaint to the OEP regarding diffuse agricultural pollution. His online profile is here.
Can you tell us about your background and what inspired you to specialise in environmental law?
I grew up in the Midlands where I attended local comprehensive schools. I was the first in my family to go to sixth form or university, so my career options were straightforward – doctor or lawyer! It was clear to myself and others that I enjoyed arguing just for the sake of it, so lawyer seemed the more natural fit.
As for environmental law, I always had a keen interest in animals, plants and chemicals. I remember giving a detailed school presentation on the damaging long-term effects of the Vietnam War herbicide Agent Orange to my slightly baffled peers in Year 5 – so it must have started before the age of 10.
After my law degree I started off specialising in public international law, doing a master’s and then a PhD. I did the Bar course part-time during my PhD, then started pupillage at Landmark Chambers, an environmental and planning law set, shortly after submitting my thesis – which is where I am now.
I would encourage anyone with an interest in environmental law to pursue it. I find the activist side of things particularly interesting: I often have to consider how a legal submission or potential legal outcome ties in with my clients’ campaigning objectives.
What motivated you to join ELF?
During my pupillage I did my first piece of work for Emma Montlake, Director of Casework at ELF, about human rights and planning, and I have been doing interesting work for ELF ever since. I naturally gravitate towards work that I find more interesting or invested in. ELF is a great source of that kind of work.
I also think it’s important to use the law to hold the powerful to account and improve environmental outcomes for ordinary citizens and their communities. Through my pro bono work I’ve helped a local fish and chip shop owner in Northumbria concerned about sewage discharges, cockle fishermen in Wales concerned about the steadily reducing size of their catch due to pollution, and climate activists seeking to protest peacefully while staying out of prison. However, as with so many other areas of law, it frequently feels like environmental law was designed to protect someone else. I often go back to that famous quote from Anatole France: “the majestic equality of the law, which prevents the rich and poor alike from sleeping under bridges, begging in the streets, and stealing bread.” You could make a similar observation about how the law applies criminal sanctions equally to climate protesters, fossil fuel extractors and water company executives.
How has working with the Environmental Law Foundation influenced your career and professional development?
ELF has been a great source of professional networking for me through the many events and conferences it has put on over the years. My pro bono work for ELF has also allowed me to dive into interesting areas of environmental law and improve my knowledge and expertise, which has been a huge professional benefit.
Can you share a memorable case or project you worked on through ELF that had a significant impact on the community or the environment?
I have done a lot of work with Emma Montlake and long-time sewage pollution campaigner Bob Latimer. One of our successes was getting the Environment Agency to reverse its decision to withdraw enforcement proceedings against an unauthorised new connection to an already overcapacity sewer network. I was also pleased that shortly after Emma and I attended a meeting with Bob and the Office for Environmental Protection and explained our legal concerns regarding the repeated failures of the government to ensure upgraded sewer capacity in England, the OEP announced a formal investigation into the matter.
What are some of the unique opportunities or advantages you’ve experienced as a member of ELF compared to other professional networks or organisations?
There are several great environmental law networks and groups around at the moment, but it seems to me that ELF really is the best place to go for interesting pro bono environmental work. As I have set out above, there are also many networking opportunities as an ELF member which will allow you to meet NGOs, campaigners and other environmental lawyers.
In your opinion, why should other legal professionals consider joining the Environmental Law Foundation, and what advice would you give to those who are interested in pursuing a career in environmental law?
Hopefully, I have already explained above why I think that everyone should join ELF!
If you are a student or young lawyer looking to break into claimant environmental law, it can feel like a bit of a closed shop sometimes, but there are several things you can do to get more involved. The best thing you can do is attend events and speak to people, as that really is the most effective way to meet potential clients and get your name out there. You can also offer to write for environmental law blogs (to get you started, ELF has a great one!). You can also turn up to planning inquiries or court hearings, to get an idea of what the day job looks like, and give you something to talk about in interviews. I wouldn’t say you need a master’s in environmental law to break into the area, but working as a paralegal at an environmental NGO or claimant law firm would give you very beneficial experience, and also help you build your network. Follow people you admire on LinkedIn. And, finally, don’t feel afraid to email people directly asking for career advice. The worst that can happen is they don’t respond to your e-mail – but that isn’t such a bad worst-case, and on the flipside you might just make a valuable connection.