Julia Baggs

BA (Hons) Durham, Call 2008

Principal Areas of Work

• Criminal Law
• Family Law
• Regulatory Law
• Children (Public) Law
• Children (Private) Law

Julia Baggs joined Chambers in 2009 after successful completion of her pupillage with James Sampson (now His Honour Judge Sampson). She specialises in criminal law and family law.

Julia is recognised as a capable advocate who is known for her approachable manner. She has extensive experience in dealing with extremely vulnerable adults who suffer from mental illness and with younger clients. Julia’s parallel practice in criminal and family law is invaluable in cases which demand a firm understanding of both jurisdictions.

Julia is described in the 2024 edition of the Legal 500:

 ‘She is a very effective communicator and has a calming but firm style of advocacy.’

Professional Reputation

Criminal Law

• Julia acts on behalf of the prosecution and defence in the Crown Court and Court of Appeal.
• She is an experienced Level 3 prosecutor for the Crown Prosecution Service.
• Julia’s practice covers a wide range of criminal offences including homicide, rape and serious sexual offences, arson, serious violence, drugs and dishonesty including armed robbery. She has extensive experience of dealing with matters involving children and vulnerable witnesses.
• Julia has been instructed in complex cases of historic child sexual abuse, in which she has dealt with large amounts of social services material including material from public law family proceedings. She has advised on third party disclosure and public interest immunity applications. Julia has experience of dealing with expert evidence including drug analysis, and complex medical evidence. She has prosecuted and defended in multi handed cases including aggravated burglary and conspiracy to supply Class A drugs.

Notable cases:

• R v A (2020) defending in an historic multiple complainant child abuse case, which included 32 allegations of rape in addition to other serious sexual offences.
• R v C (2020) junior, led by Oliver Saxby QC, prosecuting in a murder. The defendant was convicted and sentenced to a minimum term of 20 years.
• R v C (2019) successfully defending, allegations of serious sexual abuse of a child including assault by penetration.
• R v K (2017, 2018) successfully defending, alleged rape of a child under the age of 13. The prosecution offered no evidence after two juries failed to reach verdicts.
• R v L (2017) successfully defending, grievous bodily harm with intent. The complainant’s ear had been bitten off. The defendant raised self-defence.
• R v R (2017) prosecuting, child abduction. Removal of child from the jurisdiction to a non-Hague Convention country, whilst there was an ongoing enquiry by the Local Authority into the welfare of the child.
• R v S (2014) junior, led by senior junior Counsel, Anil Murray. The defendant was acquitted of multiple allegations of historic sexual abuse of female relatives including children.
• R v C (2013) defending in a multi handed large scale conspiracy to supply Class A heroin

Family Law

• Julia receives instructions in all areas of public and private family law.
• Julia acts on behalf of local authorities, parents, children and family members in public law proceedings. She is regularly instructed in cases with allegations of sexual abuse, violence, non-accidental injury, neglect and substance misuse. Julia has been instructed Counsel and led junior in cases involving allegations of serious sexual abuse against children and non-accidental injures including brain injuries. She is adept at marshalling large volumes of medical evidence and has experience of cases in which the expert evidence is conflicting. Julia has dealt with contested adoption cases, and cases involving an international element. She regularly advises Local Authorities in relation to disclosure into the criminal courts including redaction of social care records.
• In private law proceedings, Julia is instructed on behalf of parents, children and extended family members in the full range of applications. These include difficult cases of implacable hostility, shared care arrangements, internal and external relocation, special guardianship and fact-finding hearings regarding domestic violence and sexual abuse.

Notable cases:

• Re A (2020-2021) – leading junior. Representing an adult intervenor alleged to have perpetrated sexual abuse when he was a young child.
• Re L (2019) – representing the children, where the LA sought findings relating to burns to a child.
• Re S (2018) – representing the LA where findings were made about a baby being placed at risk of death by falling.
• Re G (2017) – representing a mother where the LA sought findings that she had deliberately bitten her young child’s face.
• Re Z (2017) – representing a mother in protracted private law case involving increasingly serious allegations of sexual abuse of the child by mother and maternal relatives. Findings were made against the father that the allegations were malicious.
• Re A (2016) – representing a father in a private law case in which he was alleged to have raped the mother. No findings were made against the father.
• Re G (2016) – led junior, representing the children in public law proceedings. Allegations of extensive sexual and physical abuse of multiple children by their step-father.
• Re H (2015) – led junior, representing the father in public law proceedings. Allegations of non-accidental injuries including subdural haemorrhages with conflicting medical evidence.

Qualifications & Appointments

• Durham University – BA (Hons) 2:1
• Inns Court School of Law – Bar Vocational Course – Very Competent
• College of Law – Graduate Diploma in Law – Commendation
• Inner Temple BVC Major Scholarship – 2006
• Inner Temple GDL Exhibition Scholarship – 2005
• Education and Training Officer in Chambers
• Pupil supervisor
• Chambers secretary

Professional Memberships

• North Eastern Circuit.
• Criminal Bar Association.
• Family Law Bar Association.

Training & Seminars

• Julia has provided training to local authority family lawyers, focusing on the evidential and procedural interaction between the criminal and family courts.
• Julia has contributed to seminars for local barristers and solicitors provided by Chambers.
• Julia regularly speaks to students at local schools and colleges and about routes into the profession and a career at the bar. She has provided advocacy workshops at Hull University.

Testimonials

‘Julia (Baggs) has very sound judgement. If a point can be taken, she will take it. Very personable and fights her corner. An excellent advocate who is very empathetic with clients’ – Legal 500

‘Julia (Baggs) is a very skilled advocate who is tenacious and very well prepared. I have instructed Julia on many a difficult public family law case and have been impressed by her empathetic approach to young, vulnerable clients and her willingness to go the extra mile to defend her client’s position.’