Justin Sobion

I am a West Indian/Caribbean lawyer, having graduated from the University of the West Indies in 2000 (with a LLB). In 2002, I completed my practical legal training at the Hugh Wooding Law School and was admitted to the Bar to practise law in Trinidad and Tobago in 2002. In 2008 I was admitted to practise law as a Barrister at the Commonwealth of Dominica. In addition to a LLB I also hold a LLM (Master of Laws) in International Law and Environmental Law from the University of Cape Town and the University of Auckland respectively. In 2024 I graduated with a Doctor of Philosophy in Law (International Environmental Law) (PhD) from the University of Auckland. My thesis was awarded the Vice Chancellor Prize for the best doctoral thesis in 2025.

Regarding my professional qualifications, I have spent about six years in private law practice (2003-2009) in Trinidad and Tobago. I then served as a diplomat at the Permanent Mission of Trinidad and Tobago to the United Nations in Geneva, Switzerland (2010-2015). After my diplomatic posting, I worked as an Associate Human Rights Officer at the United Nations Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) in Geneva (2017-2019). My last post at the UN was at the Office of the President of the UN Human Rights Council. In 2024 I served as the Caribbean Coordinator for the International Court of Justice (ICJ) climate change advisory opinion and acted as Counsel for two (2) Caribbean states – namely Grenada and Saint Vincent & the Grenadines.

Currently, I teach International Environmental Law at the Law Faculty of the University of Auckland, New Zealand.