Alumni profile
Helen Mitcheson
My journey to Newcastle Law School began in a place I never expected it to, in the Bay of Fundy, surrounded by whales. Following my earlier studies in marine mammal science, I spent two years working as a marine mammal researcher and educator. It was there, while studying the endangered North Atlantic Right Whale, that I realised I wanted to understand the law. Scientists had long known that large vessels travelling through vital feeding grounds were causing fatal strikes, and they had communicated this to policymakers for years. Yet change came slowly. This opened my eyes to the need for science and law to work together.
I decided to learn more about law, Newcastle was the obvious choice for me. I grew up in Whitley Bay, and I knew the university had an impressive law school. It also offered a unique LLM in Environmental Law, including an entire module titled ‘Science, Law and Climate Change’, which felt perfectly designed to help me navigate my next steps in this new direction.
I absolutely loved studying the LLM, the small classes and discussions, the reading material, and the way everything connected back to the questions I had been developing through my marine mammal work. I found the whole experience so intellectually energising, and it gave me so much confidence that this was the right path for me. Newcastle itself played a huge part in that happiness. I’d always loved the city and the region, but returning as a student made me appreciate it even more. I was also so lucky to have a great cohort of fellow students across the postgraduate programmes. My supervisor, Dr (now Professor) Ole Pedersen, was also an inspiration, and incredibly supportive of my interests, and we have stayed in touch since.
After graduating, I worked as a marine environmental consultant, advising on the legal aspects of offshore development. It was fascinating work and kept me close to the marine environment, but I couldn’t shake the feeling that I wanted to go further into law. I joined the UK Environmental Law Association (UKELA), attended events, met people practising environmental law, and I realised that qualification as a solicitor was the natural next step.
Today, I’m an environmental solicitor at Pinsent Masons, advising on environmental and marine law across a diverse range of sectors. My practice includes providing legal advice to developers, consultants, statutory bodies, NGOs and academics on complex environmental legal frameworks.
Alongside my legal practice, I have developed recognised expertise in marine mammal law. I regularly speak on the interaction between science and law at universities and conferences, including the United Nations Ocean Conference, the Society for Marine Mammalogy, the European Cetacean Society and UKELA. Within UKELA, I am also a Vice-Chair and the founder and Convenor of the Marine Law Group.
One of the things I am most proud of is writing “A Practical Guide to Marine Mammal Law in the UK”. When I first began my marine mammal legal journey, I realised there was no single place to turn for information on marine mammal law. The aim of my book is to fill that gap, bringing together the complex legal frameworks affecting marine mammals in the UK, explaining how they apply in practice and reflecting on challenges and opportunities they present.
In recognition of my work, I have been listed by the environmental policy journal, ENDS, as one of the top 100 environmental professionals making the greatest impact in the UK in 2022, 2024 and 2025.
My biggest piece of advice, and advice that I would give my younger self, is to follow what genuinely interests you. Careers in law or science are rarely linear, and that is a good thing. Stay in touch with people who inspire you; some of the most important opportunities in my life began with a conversation, a shared interest, or someone who took the time to chat with me. And don’t worry if your path doesn’t look like anyone else’s. Mine certainly doesn’t! But following the things that excited and inspired me has led me to a career that I care deeply about, and am very proud of. You never know where your interests will take you, and that’s part of the adventure.
