Don was employed as a Court Interpreter during 1964 and 1971 where after he was offered an incentive to pursue a legal career. He obtained a B. Proc degree in 1976 from the University of the North and his LLB degree in 1980 from WITS.
Don was the founder of D Thinane Attorneys and pursued his further studies. He completed his Masters (LLM) degree in Human Rights Law in 1996 obtained from the University of Pretoria.
Don has accumulated several years of experience in litigation and has developed an affinity for Environmental Law and has recently obtained a Masters degree in Environmental Law.