Birmingham Law School’s Centre for Professional Legal Education and Research welcomed Stephanie Boyce, President of the Law Society of England and Wales, to deliver the first Leaders in Law lecture of the new academic year. Stephanie's talk covered her background, her journey and her presidential priorities.

Stephanie Boyce is the 177th, the sixth female, the first Black office holder, the first person of colour and the second in-house solicitor in almost fifty years to become President of the Law Society of England and Wales. 

Stephanie was admitted as a solicitor in 2002 and has a wealth of experience in corporate governance, regulatory frameworks and professional regulation. Stephanie holds a Master of Laws in public law and global governance from King’s College and is a Fellow of the Chartered Governance Institute.

Stephanie is a Council member of the Law Society of England and Wales representing the Women Lawyers Division and Board member of the of the Law Society, a solicitor member of the Joint Tribunal Service and holds a number of statutory appointments with her local authority. 

Stephanie has recently been appointed to the HM Treasury and the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy commission - an independent taskforce boosting socio-economic diversity at senior levels in financial and professional services. 

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.

Stephanie's talk was hosted by Linden Thomas, Reader in Clinical Legal Education and Pro Bono Solicitor and Interim Head of the Centre for Professional Legal Education and Research.