This seminar truly represents the modern Law Friends Society ethos as Great James Street’s Stephen Akinsanya and Greg Stewart of GT Stewart discuss the importance of Unity in the Profession. Addressing the broad question of ‘Why bother about diversity’, the two seasoned practitioners will touch on the benefits of a variety of experience; the effects of a lack of social mobility manifesting in populist contempt for institutions such as the law; and the demands of a modern democracy on the legal system.

This is a thought-provoking and vital seminar for all those who care about the profession and the people it serves.

Stephen Akinsanya has 27 years’ experience at the bar of England and Wales. As an experienced advocate, he has appeared in many complex and serious criminal cases including fraud and murder. He has been led in a number of high-profile criminal cases from the Central Criminal Court to the Supreme Court. His practice also includes acting for soldiers of Her Majesty’s Armed Forces, appearing in sports arbitration hearings on behalf of professional athletes and regulatory work before professional bodies.

Greg Stewart has been conducting criminal litigation and related appeals for 25 years. He spent nine years as the youth justice practitioner on the Law Society Criminal Law Committee, dealing with consultations such as the last revision to the sentencing code for children and young people. He regularly provides continuing education in the area of youth justice for various providers including the College of Law; LexisNexis and WestLaw. He has been involved in many reported cases in the higher courts challenging aspects of youth court practice. He has been ranked in the current (and past) editions of the leading guides to the legal professions: Chambers UK; the Legal 500 and Super Lawyers. He is a member of the Law Society Association of Higher Court Advocates, the London Criminal Courts Solicitors’ Association and the Criminal Appeal Lawyers Association.