In March 2023, Ife Thompson, came to London South Bank University to talk to my international law and human rights students about her work as a community activist and lawyer for change.
Ife, who was recently shortlisted as a newcomer of the year in the Legal Aid Lawyer of the Year awards despite still only being in her first year of full-time practice, is a community activist, United Nations Fellow, Black history expert, curator, lawyer and writer. She campaigns for the rights of peoples of African Descent in the UK, as she believes we should live in a world where Black people can live free from Racism and Oppression. She has founded two civil society organisations to further these pursuits. The first being BLAM UK- an award-winning Non-profit that provides educational, advocacy and well-being support for Black people living in Britain. The second being Black Protest Legal Support UK a hub of UK based Lawyers willing to provide Pro-bono support to BLM Activists.
Ife was called to the Bar in 2020 and is currently a pupil barrister at 1MCB Chambers. You can listen to our conversation here: