Dame Linda Dob accepts Lifetime Achievement Award

Dame Linda Dobbs accepts the Lifetime Achievement Award at the Inspirational Women In Law Awards 2021, hosted by the Next 100 Years project.
The Inspirational Women in Law Awards seek to identify individuals from across the legal profession who are leading the way in improving equality and diversity.
Following a successful career at the Bar, in 2004 Linda Dobbs became the first non-white high court judge in the UK. At the Bar she chaired a number of committees including the Race Relations, Equal Opportunities, International, Professional Conduct and Professional Standard Committees. In 2003, she became the first female chair of the Criminal Bar Association where she set up its first equality and diversity sub-committee. She has been involved in the training of lawyers and judges both in the UK and internationally for over 20 years and is the director of training at the Judicial Institute for Africa, based at the University of Cape Town where she is an honorary professor. She has been named in the past as one of Britain’s most powerful black women, has featured regularly in the Power List 100 of Influential Black Britons and is now the chair of its selection panel.
Linda Dobbs accepted her award with a rousing speech which referenced the hardship that came along with being a "first", such as when her confidence was "robbed" by "an outspoken black member of the Bar" who said she "was a token and a coconut, taken on the to make the establishment set look good," when she became the first black lawyer to join 5 King's Bench Walk.