William D. Young IV

Bill Young has defended clients in Wake County for more than 25 years against charges such as murder, drug trafficking, sexual assault, DWI, and a list of other felony and misdemeanor charges.

For the last quarter-century, Bill Young’s practice has been dedicated to the practice of criminal defense in both district and superior court. While experienced in the most egregious of cases, he regularly handles cases involving traffic violations, charges of driving while impaired, assault, battery, larceny, domestic violence, and drug offenses.

Bill Young is a former Wake County Magistrate Judge and graduate of North Carolina Central University School of Law. While presiding as Magistrate Judge, Bill furthered his study of law through the night program at NCCU Law. Bill earned his juris doctorate from NCCU Law in 1991. Bill joined Hatch, Little & Bunn, LLP in 1993 as associate and was elevated to partner in 1996.

Prior to Law School, Bill attended North Carolina State University where his passion for defending American liberty and the US Constitution was ever-present. In addition to celebrating NCSU’s 1983 National Championship, Bill was active in peaceful demonstrations against cruel and unusual punishments and coordinating campus wide forums on liberty during our nation’s bicentennial. This commitment to jurisprudence was memorialized in the centerfold photograph the April, 1987 U.S. News and World Report magazine’s celebration of America’s bicentennial. Bill Young remains connected to his alma-maters often participating in campus events and assisting fellow alums when possible. Bill Young is a devoted NC State Wolfpack and NCCU Eagles fan.

Bill Young has served on the board of directors for Interact and was appointed by the Wake County Commissioners to the board of directors for the Juvenile Crime Prevention Council from 1999–2001. Bill Young has served on the steering committees of both the Criminal Justice Section of the North Carolina Bar Association and the Domestic Offenders Sentenced Education Program (DOSE), in addition to his work on the North Carolina Bar Association’s Domestic Violence Task Force and the North Carolina State University Social Work Advisory Council.

Bill Young is a member of the Wake County Bar, the 10th Judicial District Bar, the North Carolina Bar Association, the American Bar Association, and the Wake County Academy of Criminal Trial Lawyers. Business North Carolina Magazine again recently selected Bill Young as a 2025 Business North Carolina Legal Elite for Criminal Defense. Martindale-Hubbell has ranked Bill Young as “distinguished” for his high professional achievement and peer endorsements.

Recognition

- 2018, 2020-2025 Business North Carolina Legal Elite Criminal Lawyer

- 2020 Lawyers of Distinction Membership Selection

- 2019 and 2020 The National Trial Lawyers selection for Top 100 Criminal Defense Trial Lawyer, North Carolina

- 2019 Nomination in the field of law for Who’s Who in America2019 Selection for “10 Best Attorneys” for North Carolina – American Institute of Criminal Law Attorneys

- 2017 - Best Of Downtowner Awards - Triangle Downtowner Magazine2017 INDY Week, Best of the Triangle – Attorney at Law

- 2014 Business North Carolina Legal Elite Criminal Lawyer2013 INDY Week, Best of the Triangle – Attorney at Law