What does almost half a century in criminal defence teach you about advocacy, justice and the human reality behind a case?
In this episode of Life in Law, host Charles Peter sits down with highly respected criminal defence solicitor Laurence Lee to look back over an extraordinary career spanning almost 50 years.
A specialist in serious crime, complex fraud and major criminal litigation, Laurence has spent decades representing clients in cases ranging from everyday magistrates' court work to proceedings that attracted national attention.
But one case has remained with him unlike any other.
In 1993, Laurence represented Jon Venables following the murder of two-year-old James Bulger, one of the most shocking and widely reported criminal cases in modern British history. More than three decades later, Laurence says that hardly a day passes without him thinking about the case and the effect it had on him personally and professionally.
In this candid and wide-ranging conversation, Laurence discusses:
→ How he found his way into criminal law and why he knew it was the area in which he wanted to practice
→ What life was really like for a young criminal defence solicitor in Liverpool
→ Learning advocacy by watching experienced solicitors and developing your own courtroom style
→ Why personality, judgement and storytelling can be as important as technical knowledge in advocacy
→ The camaraderie, characters and pressures of criminal practice
→ How the criminal justice system and legal aid profession have changed during his career
→ The realities of running a criminal defence practice
→ His involvement in the James Bulger case and the extraordinary circumstances surrounding it
→ What it was like representing a child in one of the most intensely scrutinised criminal cases in British history
→ The atmosphere surrounding the trial and dealing with enormous public and media attention
→ Why the case continues to affect him more than 30 years later
→ The emotional impact serious criminal cases can have on the lawyers involved
→ Why criminal defence remains such a distinctive area of legal practice
→ His thoughts on the future of criminal law and whether retirement is finally on the horizon
Throughout the episode, Laurence also reflects on the craft of courtroom advocacy.
Rather than simply learning a formula, he describes advocacy as something developed over years of watching other practitioners, understanding people and gradually finding your own voice. From knowing when to keep speaking to knowing when to stop, his stories provide a fascinating insight into skills that are difficult to learn from a textbook.
The conversation also explores the very different criminal justice system in which Laurence began practising, from duty solicitor work and busy magistrates' courts to a profession operating without mobile phones and with a very different culture surrounding advocacy and legal aid.
At the centre of the episode, however, is a powerful reminder of the human consequences of criminal practice.
Laurence's reflections on the James Bulger case demonstrate how, for those involved in the most serious cases, the work does not necessarily end when the verdict is delivered. Some cases remain with practitioners throughout their lives.
This is an insightful, humorous and at times deeply personal conversation about criminal defence, advocacy, resilience and nearly five decades of life at the sharp end of the justice system.
50 Years in Criminal Defence: Advocacy, Justice and the James Bulger Case | Laur
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