Stephanie Boyce, legal trailblazer and advocate for social justice, EDI and social mobility, offers a preview to her keynote at ISE’s Student Recruitment Conference.
“I’m the only one who knows what it cost me. I’m the only one who knows how many nights I cried, because I couldn’t be seen for a certain type of role… I’m proud of myself. I did something people said I could not do… Sometimes you got to encourage yourself.”
These are the powerful words of Niecy Nash Betts as she accepted her Emmy award last year.
Her words resonated with me and could easily have been spoken by any one of us to describe our struggle for equity, for justice.
When we have had to use our voice to demand equality of opportunity. To be treated equally and fairly, to be given equal access to employment, housing, health, education and justice, to demand the removal of barriers and the discriminatory legacy of the past that has shaped some of the attitudes and outcomes towards us. To raise our voice so we can be seen and heard.
Breaking down barriers
Throughout my career, I’ve been driven by an unwavering commitment to breaking down barriers and opening up the legal profession to talent from all backgrounds. I’ve worked with schools, universities, advisory boards, businesses, law firms and government bodies to promote social mobility suggested to be in the UK at its worst level in more than 50 years.
Legal literacy, it continues to bother me how little people know about their rights, let alone when those rights are being taken away and equality of opportunity for everyone of every class and background, of every breadth of perspectives and skills, and not just the privileged few.
Today, I continue to use my platform to drive positive change, whether it’s addressing the impact of technology on society and the disruption of AI on the legal profession, or focusing on how law, leadership, and public service intersect to create a fairer, more inclusive society, or supporting the next generation of leaders, championing the teaching of law in schools.
My mission remains clear: to ensure that success is determined by ability, opportunity and ambition, not by background or circumstance, and to leave behind a legacy of a more open, fairer, more accessible, and just society. Where everyone gets the chance to succeed, to get ahead.
Rollback on EDI
With the ongoing debate over equity, diversity and inclusion, there has been some rollback on EDI initiatives, I’ve seen a return to that word: merit.
Let me be clear, I believe in merit. But only if we define it correctly. Merit is not about who best fits your culture, it’s about who brings the most value, skill, and potential. True meritocracy removes barriers, it does not reinforce them.
And so the story I bring to you is not just about one woman becoming the first person of colour to be President of the Law Society of England and Wales. It’s about resilience. It’s about community. It’s about injustice, and the power of persistence in the face of systems that are not always made for you.
It’s about making space and leaving the door open behind you, so others can follow. A realisation that every door is open if you PUSH: you Persevere Until Something Happens.
Find out more or register to hear Stephanie at her session on ‘Charting New Paths: Overcoming Barriers and Making a World of Positive Difference.’ at this year’s ISE Student Recruitment Conference