Alexandra Wilson

Alexandra Wilson is a young barrister specialising in family law, an author and diversity campaigner.

Alexandra Wilson first came to public attention when she spoke about how she was mistaken for a defendant rather than the barrister three times on the same day in court.

On the day in question, she was first questioned by the court security guard who looked for her name on the list of defendants before being corrected. Upon entrance, she was questioned by another barrister who told her to wait outside for her usher. Then a clerk loudly told her she had to wait for her case to come on. This, combined with a member of the public telling her only lawyers could be in the courtroom, really upset and angered her – “I don’t expect to have to constantly justify my existence at work.”

Alexandra Wilson has since used her experience to challenge discrimination – particularly racial – in the courtroom and legal system.

Contact Great British Speakers today to book barrister, diversity speaker and campaigner Alexandra Wilson for your next event.

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Black History Month Equality, Diversity & Inclusion Equality, Diversity & Inclusion Female Speakers International Women's Day Law, Crime & Security Speaker Virtual Speakers

More About Alexandra Wilson

Alexandra Wilson graduated from the University of Oxford in 2016 after studying Philosophy, Politics and Economics where she completed her thesis on police violence towards young black people. She then went on receive a graduate diploma from the BPP Law School in Law and then received her Master of Laws from the same University in 2018. She was awarded the first Queen’s Scholarship by the Honourable Society of the Middle Temple, awarded to students that showed exceptional promise in a career at the Bar.

As a barrister, Alexandra has represented a variety of clients charged with serious matters, specialising in young and vulnerable clients. Her practice includes private children, public children, domestic abuse and financial cases.

Since going public with her story, Alexandra has been interviewed for a range of TV and radio shows such as BBC News, BBC Radio 4, CBeebies, Good Morning Britain, ITV News (for Black History Month), Steph’s Packed Lunch, The Legal 500 Podcast and Woman’s Hour.

Her story went global and she was interviewed, featured and asked to contribute to print publications including The Big Issue, The Bookseller, Daily Express, Daily Mail, Ethical Editor, The Evening Standard, Glamour, Glasgow Times, Grazia, The Guardian, GQ, The Independent, The Law Society Gazette, The London Economic, Marie Claire, Personnel Today, Scottish Legal News, New Statesman, The New York Times, Stylist, The Sun, The Telegraph, The Times and TLS.

In 2020, she released her critically-acclaimed debut book In Black and White: A Young Barrister’s Story of Race and Class in a Broken Justice System. In the book, she explores the murder that influenced her profession choice, discusses what happens if you have an openly racist judge or jury and portrays a justice system in which a disproportionately large number of black people are charged, convicted and sent to prison.

She is very proud of having a mixed background; born in Essex to a white mother and a black father, her grandparents were born in Jamaica and came to England as part of the Windrush generation. Determined that everyone should have equality regardless of the colour of their skin, she founded Black Women in Law, an organisation with over 500 members that aims to united black women across the world in the legal profession. She also co-founded One Case At A Time, an organisation that facilitates legal funding and representation in cases of injustice for black people in the UK.

She has been on the safeguarding panel for the Football Association, is a trained police station appropriate adult, was elected to the Quality, Diversity and Social Mobility sub-committee of Middle Temple Hall as well as their Education sub-committee, and is a member of the Criminal Bar Association Social Mobility Committee.

Her success in her profession as well as in the media have meant accolades have been raining upon her including, Legal Cheek award for the Best Use of Social Media (2021), a mention in The Lawyer’s Hot 100 (2021), The Big Issue’s Top 100 Changemakers (2021), Woman of the Year 2020 at the Precious Awards and she was shortlisted for Woman of the Year 2020 at the Women of the Year awards.

Alexandra Wilson Speaking Topics

– Race

– Diversity and Inclusion

– Inequality

– UK Law

– Family Law

– Criminal Law

– Business Ownership

She has spoken at a number of events, including at Blackheath High School as part of their Black History Month celebrations, and in the Brown Rudnick’s Women in Business ‘In Conversation With’ series.

Below: Alexandra Wilson chats to Good Morning Britain with Piers Morgan and Susanna Reid about the now-famous incident where she was referred to as the defendant three times.

Now a popular personality as well as barrister, Alexandra Wilson is the ideal choice for corporate events, particularly those involving young lawyers. Her education, professional and personal experiences inspire audiences of all sizes. She is passionate about justice and racial quality as well as diversity and inclusion for all.

Call +44 1753 439 289 or email Great British Speakers now to book Barrister and Diversity Campaigner Alexandra Wilson for your corporate event.

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Testimonials

She has shown an ability to pick up a very difficult matter, in tough circumstances, even when parachuted in late in the day, and imbibe herself in the case.
Fellow Solicitor

Both [the lay client] and I were very happy and very impressed with the quality of work that Alexandra provided from the onset. The client was very stressed out prior to her hearing but she found Alexandra to be very helpful and dealt with her concerns, which put the client at east.
Fellow Solicitor

Alexandra is so lovely and was such great fun to work with.
This is Spoken, 2021

Just wanted to say what a brilliant event last night was with Alexandra Wilson. She is such a wonderfully eloquent advocate for diversity and her words were very empowering. My generation have a lot to learn from younger role models like Alexandra.
Brown Rudnick Women in Business Series, 2021