I Stephanie Boyce

Ingrid Stephanie Boyce (born 1972), known professionally as I. Stephanie Boyce, is a British solicitor (admitted in England & Wales), a fellow of the Chartered Governance Institute, formerly the Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators (ICSA) and an inspirational speaker. Boyce is professionally known as I. Stephanie Boyce due to a dislike of her first name, Ingrid which is abbreviated to I.
Boyce is best known for her role with the , the professional association that represents and governs solicitors for the jurisdiction of England and Wales. It provides services and support to practising and training solicitors, as well as serving as a forum for law reform.
Boyce will serve as Law Society President in 2021-2022 and will become the Law Society’s first ethnic minority President since the Law Society was founded in 1825.
Early life and education
Boyce was born at the Royal Buckinghamshire Hospital in Aylesbury, in 1972. She is the daughter of Melvin Boyce, a Barbadian born security officer, and Pamesta Boyce, a Vincentian born cleaner. Boyce grew up in Aylesbury until her mother’s remarriage where she emigrated to the United States of America with her mother in 1985. Boyce was educated at St Mary’s Church of England school moving on to Bearbrook Middle School and on to The Grange Secondary school in Aylesbury. Graduating from Norristown High Schoolin 1991.
From 1996-1999, Boyce studied at London Guildhall University, where she resided in Mile End, graduating with a Bachelor of Laws with Politics (Hons). Boyce completed the Legal Practice Course from 1999-2000 at the College of Law, Guildford. From 2008-2010, Boyce studied at King’s College, London graduating with a Master of Laws in Public Law and Global Governance (Merit) whilst working at the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA), the global body for professional accountants.
Legal Career
Boyce was admitted as a solicitor in 2002 with Horwood and James solicitors, Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire. Boyce took up her first post qualification role in the litigation department of Winters Solicitors in Huntington, Cambridgeshire in November 2002. Boyce subsequently joined Conway & Company solicitors in 2003. Having been made redundant twice in as many years Boyce moved in-house in 2004 becoming solicitor to the then lay Complaints Commissioner of the General Council of the Bar, Major-General Michael Scott.
Since qualifying, Boyce has spent most of her career working in complex environments with a particular expertise in overhauling governance arrangements. Career experiences have included central and local government appointments and professional regulation. In 2005-2006 Boyce undertook a series of locum roles eventually taking up post as Senior Investigations Officer with Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) Professional Standards Department in 2007. Within six months of joining ACCA, Boyce was promoted to Committee Manager and Clerk to the Disciplinary and Regulatory Committees. Whilst at ACCA, Boyce studied part time for a Master of Laws degree at Kings College London.
After five years with ACCA, Boyce went on to complete a number of assignments for the Pensions Regulator in Brighton and the Office for Standards in Education, Children's Services and Skills (Ofsted) in London. Whilst at Ofsted, Boyce was headhunted to join the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (CIArb) where she became its Director of Legal Services. Following a restructure at CIArb, Boyce's title changed to Director of Corporate Affairs. In her most recent roles, as General Counsel and Company Secretary Boyce delivered strategic change in complex environments, bringing clarity to strategic planning and delivering improved legal services in challenging financial circumstances.
City of Westminster and Holborn Law Society
Boyce is the past honorary secretary of the City of Westminster and Holborn Law Society (2010-2012) now titled Westminster and Holborn Law Society.
Law Society Council Member
In 2013 Boyce became a Council member of the Law Society representing the newly created Women Lawyers Division.
In 2015 Boyce made her first attempt as a candidate for Deputy Vice President of the Law Society, she would become successful upon her fourth attempt in 2019, having enlisted the help of lead campaign manager, and fellow Law Society council member Alan East, the Coventry University law school academic and chair of the Law Society's Education and Training Committee.
Boyce is a non-executive director of the Law Society of England and Wales as a Council member representing Women Lawyers. Boyce is a former member of its Regulatory Affairs Board, as well as former Chair of its Conduct Committee. During Boyce’ tenure as chair of the Conduct Committee she introduced a number of radical reforms to the Law Society’s complaints process and bye-laws.
Other Appointments
Boyce is a solicitor adjudicator member of the Joint Tribunal Service, Chair of the Independent Education Appeal Panel, Chair of the Independent Review Panel, and the Independent Person of the Standards Committee for Buckinghamshire County Council.
Law Society Deputy Vice Presidency (2019-2020)
The inauguration of I. Stephanie Boyce as the 178th Deputy Vice President took place on July 4, 2019 at the Law Society’s headquarters in Chancery Lane, London. Boyce is set to become the Society’s 177th President, the sixth female President and the first ethnic minority President.
Personal Life
Boyce is unmarried and has no children. Boyce’s mother Pamesta (born 1952), was raised in St Vincent and the Grenadines emigrating to the UK in 1967. Boyce's father Melvin (born 1947), a Barbadian who emigrated to the UK in 1964. Boyce parents divorced when she was four years old. Boyces’ brother is Emmerson Boyce the former Premier League professional footballer who in May 2013 captained Wigan to win the FA Cup over Manchester City.
Books
Boyce has featured in a number of books, Career Management for Lawyers: Practical Strategies to Plan your Next Chapter and First 100 Years of Women in Law.

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