In 1967 the University of Essex awarded its first honorary degrees (DU Essex). Among the first recipients were the Prime Minister at the time, Harold Wilson; Lord Annan, Provost of University College London who had an immense influence in Higher Education and the artist John Northcote Nash.
Since then the University has honoured more than 300 men and women from many walks of life for their varied contributions to learning, creativity and the acquisition of knowledge, to human welfare and human rights, and to the building and maintaining of a fairer society. On 5th October 2018, our Senior Partner Tony Fisher will become one of the latest recipients of this degree at a ceremony held by the University Centre Colchester. The honorary doctorate has been described as one of higher education’s most prestigious tributes and Tony Fisher has said: “this is a wonderful honour which came totally out of the blue.”
Tony’s tireless enthusiasm for the legal profession, rule of law and access to justice has directly impacted thousands of individuals, students, lawyers and the general public. His selfless sharing of knowledge has encouraged and helped students and young lawyers to practice law. He has spoken at many universities in relation to the rule of law and human rights as well as at the United Nations in Geneva.
Human rights, the duty to uphold the rule of law and to protect fundamental freedoms are close to Tony’s heart. As defenders of those rights, he believes that lawyers must be able to act without fear of retribution. Tony acts as an international trial observer for the Law Society and has appeared as an advocate at the European Court of Human Rights in connection with domestic and international issues. He has been influential in the release of lawyers imprisoned abroad.
Tony is a Fellow of the Human Rights Centre, Essex University, Chair of the Human Rights Committee at the Law Society and is a member of the Alliance for Lawyers at Risk.