Julian B. Knowles

Using a law qualification to defend human rights

After completing the Common Professional Qualification (CPE) - now known as the Graduate Diploma in Law - in 1993, Julian B. Knowles has built a distinguished career as a barrister specialising in criminal law and human rights law.

Julian was inspired to pursue a legal career after becoming interested in law and human rights law during his undergraduate degree, seeing it as an opportunity to really make a difference. Making the move to London after graduation, he spent a year at the Inns Court School of Law and went on to spend time as a pupil barrister, before commencing practice in 1995.

Making his mark early, he won his first House of Lords case after being in practice for less than a year. No stranger to working on cases attracting global media attention, he went on to successfully defend General Pinochet and Siôn Jenkins, and he is also part of a team of counsel that has fought against the death penalty around the world.

In 2011 he was appointed as a QC, the youngest criminal practitioner in his year to be promoted.

"The CPE was a super-intensive course and so I did little other than study. It was just the beginning though, and I continue to learn something new every day."

"I have worked on cases which I hope have made a real difference to people. I have also met some amazing people - both clients and other barristers."

Julian Knowles, Queen's Counsel, Matrix Chambers
Graduated in 1993