Justice News247 publishes exclusively and premierely the first interview of 2024 with a name, a woman who is an authority and example of professionalism, integrity with moral and academic probity in the history of the legal profession in England and Wels.
Today at Justice News247 answer our questions Dr. I. Stephanie Boyce, former president of the Law Society of England and Wales.
Q: What it means to be president of The Law Society while you were president of this professional organization?
A: ” In March 2021, after four attempts, I took my place in history, breaking barriers and becoming the first person of colour president of the Law Society. This achievement symbolises progress, but it also highlights the need for continued efforts to address the broader issue of underrepresentation of women in leadership roles.
It had always been my dream to enter the legal profession, as early as I can remember. I grew up surrounded by the sounds of injustices, as I saw people across the globe and domestically struggling to enforce or even access their rights. And I am still seeing so much of that even today, with the decimation of legal aid by successive UK governments, victims, witnesses, and defendants waiting months, if not years, with the ever-growing backlogs of cases and legal aid deserts. There is no denying that the justice system here in the UK is not working as it should.
From the offset, I knew what I wanted to achieve as president. Of course, there were my specific presidential commitments, such as increasing access to justice, upholding the rule of law, and increasing diversity within the profession. But my one overarching aim was to use my leadership position to leave the profession more diverse and inclusive than the one I entered, to get out there, and to raise awareness of the law and legal rights. To increase legal literacy among the public. After all, legal rights mean absolutely nothing if you don’t know what your rights are and don’t even know when those rights are being taken away.
It’s fair to say my time in office was eventful, to put it mildly. During my 19 months in office, I served under two prime ministers, three Lord Chancellors, two monarchs, three CEOs of the Law Society, and over 70 ministerial resignations. I had to lead the profession through a number of once-in-a-lifetime crises, such as the tail end of Brexit, a global pandemic, a complete change in working, the withdrawal in Afghanistan, the war in Ukraine, the cost of living crisis, and the death of Her Majesty the Queen.
For so much of my tenure, the focus was on keeping the ship steady and stable through those choppy waters. But I was determined to make a difference, to leave a lasting legacy of change, to be judged by the content of my character, my words, and my actions, not by the colour of my skin or my background.
I refused to be defined by the labels that others chose to attach to me; instead, I led with intention and purpose, with a sprinkling of determination, resilience, and strength. How I went from a council estate to become president and one of the most influential and exceptional leaders of our time.”
Q: What does The Law Society mean for British and global society?
A: ” The Law Society plays a crucial role in British and global society by serving as
the representative body for over 200,000 solicitors across England and Wales. It represents, supports and promote solicitors in England and Wales and internationally.
The Law Society supports a fair and just society by speaking out to defend the rule of law and access to justice for everyone whether they are UK based or globally acting as the voice of solicitors, driving excellence in the profession, safeguarding the rule of law, working to make sure no-one is above the law, promoting England and Wales as the jurisdiction of choice, promote the vital role legal services play in the UK and global economy, works internationally to open up markets for its members, defends human rights at home and abroad and supports members with career opportunities, providing networking events and development training. These are some of the areas the Law Society contribute to. Ultimately, the Law Society promotes the principles of justice, fairness, and the rule of law. Its work helps to ensure that legal systems are accessible, accountable, and effective in safeguarding the rights and interests of individuals and communities at home and abroad. But the Law Society cannot be all things to all of its members and will have to seriously consider its offering and positioning going forward if it is to remain relevant and needed. The profession is changing and the Law Society must also change.”
Q: It is said that the British lawyer is an elite one, given the rules and conditions that carry out his profession… Is this opinion still valid today?
A: ” Of course as a British lawyer I would agree. It is true that we are a very heavily regulated profession. The SRA, Solicitors Regulation Authority, is the regulator of legal services, acting to protect the public and ensuring high professional standards of competence. The burden of heavy regulation has been costly in terms of financial cost and those forced to leave the profession due to over regulation and rising cost. There are also other jurisdictions who are competing for our business, legal services. Some therefore question the need for the overregulation of the profession and whether it remains necessary.
Additionally, the perception of British lawyers as elite is rooted in the historical development and regulation of the profession in the UK. Traditionally, becoming a lawyer required a rigorous education, typically at prestigious universities such as Oxford or Cambridge, followed by formal training and apprenticeship. Admission to the legal profession is governed by strict regulations and standards set by regulatory bodies. While elements of this elitism may still persist in certain aspects of the legal profession, such as the emphasis on academic credentials and the competitive nature of entry into top law firms and barrister chambers, there have been significant changes over time that have opened up access to the legal profession and expanded opportunities for those from a non traditional background to enter the profession and this will further add to the richness of the profession and continue to position British lawyers as one of the best at home and abroad.”
Q: How do you see the world of justice starting with England and in the world?
A: “I am concerned that domestically and globally that the rule of law is under increasing threat of being ignored and overridden.
There is mounting anxiety in the UK legal profession that respect for the rule of law in this country is declining. The current climate and legislation being considered (Rwanda Bill) are cause for serious concern.
The concept of the rule of law means that laws are made democratically, everyone is protected by and accountable to the same laws — including government — with independent courts there to uphold these in a way that is accessible, fair and efficient.
That arrangement is undermined if a government takes the view that laws, international or domestic, can be broken. And of late there are too many examples of where the rule of law is being forced into retreat.
Access to justice is also under threat and increasingly becoming further out of reach for the many unless they are able to afford it and that cannot be right in a fair and just society.”
Q: You are one of the pioneers of the profession who left an invaluable legacy to the profession and The Law Society, what are your current concerns?
A: ” I had 19 months in office as president, one of the longest terms in modern history, if not the longest. There are many issues that concern me such as the rule of law, lack of legal aid, legal advice deserts, court backlogs, underfunding of the justice system, legal literacy and the lack of access to justice. One of those is the scarcity of access to justice here in the UK.
The reduction in legal aid has left us saddled with the sobering reality that half a million people navigate through court alone without legal representation, without little or no knowledge of the law or their rights. This isn’t just a statistic; it represents individuals facing complex legal challenges without the support they deserve. In these times of difficult economic circumstances and political turbulence, I call upon our politicians of every stripe to not forget our fourth emergency service, the justice system, and the desperate injection of funds it too requires and a reimagining of the services it should provide. Profound solutions are needed. A new approach is needed to address the structural issues of the justice system to fix the deficiencies in the system, we must be more innovative, and make greater use of emerging technology and greater use of dispute resolution. The justice system must work for everyone and not just a select few.”
Q: In recent years your predecessors have constantly pointed out the problems of the profession, how do you think they will be solved given that there is talk about artificial intelligence in the profession and justice?
A: “I have written a number of articles on the challenges and opportunities of AI. There is no doubt that Technology is redefining the legal field and society. As practitioners we have to equip and prepare ourselves for the changing landscape and the way we work with and keep pace with technology otherwise we will get left behind and even become redundant due to our failure to keep pace with this pervasive technology we now call AI.”
Q: You are a deep speaker with solid principles and values, I have read your posts they are priceless as trust and elitism… Is there still room for principles, values and freedom?
A: ” Yes. There has to be. Or we will be the poorer for it. Values, integrity and honesty underpin my beliefs and actions, defining my work. The concept of ethics, “doing the right thing” is ingrained in us as lawyers and this must be the golden thread that runs through everything we do as lawyers to keep the wheels of justice turning and deliver a fairer, more prosperous, just society.”
Q: Justice for you means your way of life, as a practitioner, teacher, speaker, is society, members of the profession, the legislator interested in the foundation of justice?
A: ” As a solicitor, thought leader, campaigner, speaker, and mentor, for me this means upholding principles of fairness, equity, and the protection of individual rights within society. Justice is not just a legal concept but a fundamental aspect of our way of life, impacting every aspect of society and the lives of everyone.
I strive to ensure that justice is served for the many, advocating for their rights and interests within the justice system.
I have long campaigned that law should be taught in schools as I believe in instilling a deep understanding of justice in students from an early age, by educating them about the law and their rights. Because what is the point of legal rights, if you don’t know what those rights are and you don’t even know when those rights are being taken away.
I continue to use my platform to raise awareness about issues of justice and advocate for positive change within society. Whether addressing fellow professionals, policymakers, or the general public, I strive to promote dialogue, challenge injustice, and inspire action towards a more just and equitable world.
It is essential that all members of society, including members of the legal profession, legislators, and policymakers, are actively engaged in the pursuit of justice. This requires a collective effort to address systemic inequalities, protect human rights, and ensure equal access to justice for all individuals, regardless of their background or circumstances.
Ultimately, the foundation of justice lies in the shared values, principles, and commitments of society as a whole. By working together to uphold these ideals and hold each other accountable, we can strive towards a more just, equitable, and inclusive society for present and future generations.”
I. Stephanie Boyce, former president of the Law Society of England and Wales, thank you for your time at Justice News247. We invite you to be a permanent presence in Justice News247 interviews.
Short presentation:
I. Stephanie Boyce is the Former President of the Law Society of England and Wales. In March 2021 she made history becoming the 177th, the sixth female and the first person of colour to become president. During her tenure as president she successfully steered the profession through a number of world crises which challenged the legal sector like never before including the Covid 19 pandemic, holding the line in difficult times and helping the Law Society to define its core public value in the 21st century, whilst redefining how it delivered and remained true to those core values in a digital world. www.istephanieboyce.com
By
Robert Williams
Editor in Chief
Discover more from Justice News247
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.