Tributes paid to 'long-term stalwart' of criminal defence community

A solicitor-advocate described as a ‘long-term stalwart’ of the criminal defence community has died. The London Criminal Courts Solicitors’ Association, a practitioner group, announced on Sunday that ‘colleague, friend and member’ Julian Young had passed away.

‘He fought his recent diagnosis of leukaemia with characteristic determination. Julian will be remembered fondly as a long term stalwart of the London defence community,’ the association said in a tweet.

We are saddened to share the news of the passing of our colleague, friend & member Julian Young @TheLWA.

He fought his recent diagnosis of leukaemia with characteristic determination.
Julian will be remembered fondly as a long term stalwart of the London defence community. RIP pic.twitter.com/cSuLAUdxrO

— LCCSA (@lccsa) August 15, 2021

Young, who qualified in 1977, was a consultant solicitor at national firm Tuckers and four-time president of the West London Law Society. His extensive career includes prosecuting for the Post Office in the 1980s and representing a prisoner whose murder conviction was quashed after 27 years based on DNA evidence.

He was a member of the Solicitors Association of Higher Courts Advocates, LCCSA, Criminal Law Solicitors Association, former member of the area and regional committees of the Legal Services Commission, member and committee member of the Association of Military Court Advocates and a former member of the committee dealing with Bow Street Magistrates’ Court night court pilot scheme.

He was shortlisted for a legal aid lawyer of the year award in 2010.

Director of Public Prosecutions Max Hill QC tweeted that Young was the ‘first friendly face’ he saw when the Crown Prosecution Service chief made unannounced trips to several magistrates’ courts a few months ago.

I made unannounced trips to several Mags Courts a few months ago, to assess the balance between CVP and in person hearings, and the first friendly face I saw was Julian’s: always charming, persuasive and a true fighter for defence advocates and advocacy. RIP Julian. https://t.co/e34sQbGL6x

— Max Hill (@MaxHillQC) August 15, 2021

 Young has regularly featured in the Gazette. In 2010, he explained why reform of the law relating to murder was long overdue. The following year he said defence lawyers should be praised for their efforts in dealing with the 2011 London riot cases. In 2012 he criticised the increasing number of initiatives from ministers and civil servants to rush cases through the lower courts at breakneck speed, stressing that ‘one must never sacrifice justice on the twin altars of speed and expediency’.

More recently, he spoke about remotely representing a suspect at a police station interview for the first time during lockdown as part of a feature on the criminal justice system.

Former LCCSA president Jonathan Black said Young had long called for a Royal commission on criminal justice. ‘We would joke about it being his mantra. Maybe progress will be his legacy,’ Black suggested.

A well known and respected criminal defence solicitor will be missed. For years he called for a royal commission into criminal justice . We would joke about it being his mantra . Maybe progress will be his legacy . RIP https://t.co/HjQwbj5AdF

— Jonathan Black 🟣 (@jonblackbsb) August 15, 2021

You can read Julian Young's obituary here.