I. Stephanie Boyce announced as new chair of The Solicitors’ Charity
updated on 02 December 2025
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The Solicitors’ Charity has appointed I. Stephanie Boyce as chair elect, from March 2026, and as a member of the board of trustees.
I. Stephanie Boyce has led at the highest levels of the legal profession, serving as president of the Law Society of England and Wales between 2021 to 2022 during a time of significant upheaval due to the covid-19 pandemic. She became the first person of colour, first Black president and sixth woman to lead the society in its history. Widely recognised as a trailblazer, she’s an inspiration to those from diverse demographics.
A solicitor since 2002, Boyce is recognised for her experience in corporate governance, regulatory frameworks and professional regulation, as well as her leadership on diversity, governance and inclusion.
Reflecting on her appointment, Boyce said: “Throughout my career, grounded in the principles of law, leadership and legacy, I’ve been privileged to use my voice to highlight the issues that matter to our profession. I believe in fostering informed debate, encouraging collaboration and working collectively to reach solutions that strengthen our legal community.
My aim is to deepen understanding of the charity’s vital role and to advocate for meaningful, tangible support from businesses, institutions, firms, suppliers and individuals alike.”
CEO of The Solicitors’ Charity, Nick Gallagher, commented: “The team is delighted about this appointment and the choice of Stephanie Boyce as the Charity’s next chair. Stephanie will be a brilliant advocate for our work, across the profession: what we can offer to solicitors in times of need and why it is more important than ever that the profession supports us in carrying out that vital work.”
Outgoing Chair Shams Rahman described Boyce as an “extremely accomplished and high-profile solicitor [who] understands only too well the issues affecting our profession and how they impact on wellbeing”. He added: “The trustees felt that she would represent the charity superbly and help increase awareness of us, and the vital work that we do, with new audiences.”
