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I Stephanie Boyce has taken over the reins at Chancery Lane
Boyce, who worked in-house before setting up her own consultancy, is the 177th president, the sixth woman president and the second in-house solicitor to hold the office in the past 50 years. Her previous roles include director of legal services at the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators and legal advisor at the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants.
In her inaugural speech, she set out three priorities for her term. First, genuine equal opportunities and treatment in the profession and judiciary. Noting that solicitors with disabilities, solicitors with caring responsibilities and solicitors from minority ethnic backgrounds continue to face obstacles, she pledged to work to address retention and progression gaps in the profession.
This is a time of change for solicitors, for their organisations, and for the country,’ she said.
‘The door is open, and the trail is ready to be blazed.’
Second, access to justice and technology. Recognising the importance of technology for the justice system throughout the pandemic, she emphasised that justice must be accessible to all, especially those with poor digital skills, disabilities, or a lack of equipment, internet access or financial resources.
Third, promoting digital engagement, good mental health and the rule of law. Boyce said lockdown caused the Law Society to create more opportunities for digital engagement with its members. To continue this, she announced the launch of a free, virtual course, ‘Introduction to Legal Technology’, which explains what lawtech is, the types of technology available for an individual law practice, and how it can be used. Find the course at www.learn.lawsociety.org.uk.
Boyce vowed to protect the rule of law and the integrity of the legal profession from attack, highlighting that solicitors ‘must be able to do their job without fear of intimidation’.
