Esbie qualified with a BProc in 1992 and an LLB at the (then) Rand Afrikaans University in 1994. She commenced articles of clerkship in 1995 and was admitted as attorney, notary and conveyancer during 1997. She continued to practice at the sidebar, ultimately as a partner specializing in property and conveyancing matters until the end of 2006.

Parenthood intervened until she was called to the Bar in 2013.