David Young obtained his Bachelor of Laws at Osgoode Hall Law School in 1981 and was called to the bar in Ontario in 1983. He articled at Benson Percival Brown, and was later admitted into the partnership. As a partner, Young appeared at all levels of court in Ontario, almost exclusively in the field of civil litigation.

Young has served as counsel to the Toronto Police, Hamilton Regional Police and at various public inquiries including The Royal Commission into Deaths at the Hospital for Sick Children (Grange Commission), The Toronto External Leasing Inquiry (Bellamy Inquiry) as well as numerous inquests and tribunals.

From February 2001 to February 2003, David served as Attorney General of Ontario and Minister Responsible for Native Affairs. On April 15, 2002, Young was given the additional responsibility of Gaming. In 2003, he became the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing.

As Attorney General, Young introduced a comprehensive Case Management Program, expanded the monetary limit for Simplified Procedure cases and introduced legislation reforming the Limitations Act. In his capacity as Minister of Native Affairs, Young resolved numerous longstanding land claims and various other claims through mediation and negotiation.

He has appeared as a speaker and participant at continuing legal education programs and law conferences across Canada and the United States as well as the 2001 University of Cambridge Lectures in Cambridge England.

Young also served on the North York (1991 to 1997) and Metropolitan Toronto School Boards (1994 to 1997) as a Trustee.

He is also currently serving as a Trustee with The Canadian Centre for Abuse Awareness.

He is a member of the Canadian Bar Association and the Advocates' Society, and has been certified as a Specialist in Civil Litigation by the Law Society of Upper Canada.