Sent: Tuesday, June 19, 2012 10:16 AM
Response to Complaint against Breivik Attorneys (PDF of Complaint)
Sent: Tuesday, June 19, 2012 10:16 AM
To: Lara
Subject: RE: Adv.For: Klage:
Dear Ms Lara Johnstone,
The Norwegian Bar Association’s Disciplinary Committee has received your complaints concerning numerous lawyers participating in the case against Anders Behring Breivik. Complaints concerning a lawyer’s possible breach of the Code of conduct for lawyers can be brought before the Disciplinary Committee as long as the lawyer is a member of the Norwegian Bar Association. If the lawyer is not a member, the complaint must be addressed to the Disciplinary Board.
The Disciplinary Committee’s handling of complaints is regulated by The Norwegian Bar Association’s bylaws § 13-1, cf. the Disciplinary Committee’s processing regulations.
We would like to point out that anyone whose complaint is based on a legal interest is entitled to file a complaint. In practice this means that the attorney’s client has a right to complain. Complaints regarding the other party’s attorney may also be filed. It is thus primarily the parties involved in a case that can file a complaint against a lawyer, as the complainant must have a direct connection to the circumstances that the complaint is built on. If the complainant has no such legal interest, the complaint will be rejected. A complaint may also be rejected if it is obviously baseless.
Based on the information received in your complaints, it seems like these are not in compliance with the legal interest- requirement.
Should you nevertheless uphold your complaints, please be aware that all complaints must be submitted in writing and signed, and send us as two originals by ordinary mail. We would like to emphasize the importance of sending your complaints by ordinary mail due to the fact that the Norwegian Bar Association does not accept any complaints sent by e-mail.
The following items should be included in the complaint:
1. Name and address of the attorney who is the subject of the complaint.
2. Indicate the date you became aware of the matter(s) that is/are the subject of the complaint.
3. Write why you believe the attorney has violated the rules of proper conduct and/or why you believe the demanded fee is too high. Provide a brief presentation of the factual circumstances. It is important, to the extent you can, that you provide dates for all events.
4. Enclose copies of letters and other documents that you believe are relevant to the complaint.
5. Complete an attorney complaint form with declaration of consent to the processing and handling of personal data.
The Norwegian Bar Association cannot process the complaint without a completed and signed attorney complaint form. Documents received without the complaint form attached will be returned to the complainant.
Please send two copies of the signed written complaint enclosed with any documentation you find relevant, in duplicate, and a filled-out and signed consent form in original to:
Advokatforeningen
Kristian Augustsgt. 9
NO-0164 Oslo
Label the envelope “Disciplinary Complaint”.
Kind regards
The Norwegian Bar Association