Obituary: Judge Prakash Mathuradas Suchak

On 15 December, Leicestershire lost a renowned and highly respected member of its legal fraternity with the passing of Prakash Suchak.

Unlike many who enter the legal profession immediately after completing their formal education, Prakash began his legal career later in life. In his mid-30s, while balancing work, family life with his wife and two sons, and managing kidney failure, he dedicated himself to completing his law degree and the LPC.

After qualifying as a solicitor with Leicester-based Geach Randall & Co, Prakash quickly advanced within the firm, becoming manager of its branches. He then established his own successful law firm, P M Suchak & Co.

Prakash’s contributions extended beyond his legal practice. In 2004, he became the first member of an ethnic minority community as well as the first graduate from De Montfort University (in its former guise as Leicester Polytechnic) to be appointed a committee member of the Leicestershire Law Society. In another milestone, he became president of the society in 2008, marking the first time a person of Indian origin had held such a position within a regional law society nationally.

Prakash’s journey to the legal profession was nothing short of remarkable. He arrived in the UK as a refugee in 1972 at the age of 17, following the expulsion of Ugandan Asians by Idi Amin. As the primary provider in a family of six, he worked various jobs, including as a licensed taxi driver, a sandwich packer, in the kitchen at KFC, and as a forklift operator, while also pursuing A-levels in the evenings. Having being told of his potential by a number of his superiors, he later took up an office job and then became a customs officer at HM Customs and Excise before embarking on his legal journey.

Arguably the pinnacle of his career was being appointed a tribunal judge, a role he held for over a decade and in which he was still active at the time of his passing, as one of the most senior judges on the Midland circuit.

His accomplishments are even more extraordinary considering his 35 years of health challenges, including renal failure, heart disease, prostate cancer, diabetes, high blood pressure, and a severe hip condition requiring the use of crutches.

Above all, Prakash was a family man to the core. He is survived by his wife, two sons, daughter-in-law, and his two beloved granddaughters, who held a particularly special place in his heart.

Prakash will be remembered as a respected figure in the legal profession, admired for his inspirational qualities and warm smile. His story serves as a testament to the power of perseverance and the belief that anything is possible. May he rest in peace.