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I. Stephanie Boyce
I. Stephanie Boyce is instantly recognised as the first president of colour of the Law Society of England and Wales, serving her Presidency from March 2021 to October 2022. She is also the longest serving President in the Society’s history to date. An impressive keynote speaker, Stephanie is a leading voice on subjects such as Leadership, Resilience, Diversity and Inclusion and the Justice System.
About I. Stephanie Boyce
I. Stephanie Boyce’s story is one which epitomises resilience in the face of adversity. From living on a council estate to leading the largest body of solicitors in the country, she shares how she refused to be defined by the labels the world attached to her and became one of the most influential leaders of our time. Drawing on her experiences as a Black woman in the legal sector, Stephanie led the Law Society through some of the most momentous world events in recent history. Her keynote speeches and fireside chats are informative and inspiring in equal measure.
I. Stephanie Boyce is a multi award-winning, highly experienced and inspiring adaptable leader who doesn’t take no for an answer. She is a strategic thinker and influencer delivering measurable and sustainable results. Ever determined, Stephanie became president of the Law Society after a relentless four attempts. Throughout this time period, Stephanie never once accepted defeat, despite the discouragement and dissuasion she experienced by others around her. In her speeches, Stephanie recounts how she went from being told that she would never make it as a solicitor to leading the largest body of solicitors through a number of world crises including the Covid-19 pandemic, the withdrawal in Afghanistan, the war in Ukraine and the death of Her Majesty the Queen.
Admitted as a solicitor in 2002, Stephanie holds a Master of Laws in public law and global governance from King’s College London and is a Fellow of the Chartered Governance Institute.
A strong advocate of social justice, Stephanie is a member of the HM Treasury and the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) commissioned, an independent taskforce to boost socio-economic diversity at senior levels in UK financial and professional services. Additionally, Stephanie is also a member of Thomson Reuters Transforming Women’s Leadership in the Law Advisory Board. She sits as a Commissioner on the National Preparedness Commission to promote better readiness for a major crisis or incident and the Shinkwin Commission looking at how business can harness diverse talent for success.
In 2020, Stephanie was voted on to the Governance Hot 100 – Board Influencer and made the Power List 100 Most Influential Black People in the UK in 2021, 2022 and 2023 and jointly awarded the 2022 Burberry British Diversity Awards-Inspirational Role Model of the Year.
Stephanie is an Honorary Professor of Law, The Dickson Poon School of Law, King’s College London. Furthermore, she holds Honorary Doctorates of Law from Keele University and the University of East London and is the winner of the King’s College London Distinguished Alumni of the Year award 2022. Stephanie also received the High Sheriff of Buckinghamshire award for her leadership of the legal profession during the COVID-19 pandemic and services to equality, diversity and inclusion.
- Leadership
- Resilience
- Determination
- Diversity and Inclusion (ED&I)
- Public Legal Education
- The Justice System
- Social Justice
- Current Affairs
- Social Mobility
- Tenure as the first president of colour of the Law Society of England and Wales after four attempts
Testimonials
"What an incredible, inspiring and open-hearted leader you have been. You have made us all believe it is within reach. Thank you for your service."
Tiana Epati - Barrister - Criminal Law Specialist
"You shine a beacon of light on the legal profession through these challenging times."
