The lawyers’ strike is being stepped up and will now include children exposed to violence and abuse

The Bar Association is stepping up the ongoing lawyers’ strike, which will now also include the children’s house in Bergen.

It means that assistance lawyersAssistance lawyer: A lawyer who represents victims in criminal cases, for example victims of violence or sexual assault. who are appointed in cases related to suspicions of violence or abuse against children and other vulnerable people in Bergen are also called out on strike.

From before, legal aid lawyers who assist at interrogations at children’s homes in Tromsø and Barnehuset in Bodø are on strike.

– The strike is a response to the government’s persistent breach of agreement on the increase in the public sector the legal aid rateLegal aid rate: A set hourly rate that lawyers are paid to work on cases where the clients receive financial support from the state for legal aidwhich has been grossly under-regulated over the past 20 years, says Kjetil Ottesen to VG.

Unfortunately, children and young people will be affected, he says.

– But that is also why we feel compelled to strike.

Will prevent help

Every day, children are interviewed at the Children’s Home in Bergen, sometimes several interviews a day.

Statens barnehus is an offer for children and young people who may have been exposed to, or witnessed, violence or sexual abuse – where there is a police report.

Now the questioning must be postponed and the police will be hindered in their work.

Ottesen says the strike is a clear message to Minister of Justice Emilie Enger Mehl:

– For years we have tried to have a dialogue with the Minister of Justice, but the government continues to cut the rate, despite having committed to an increase.

Now lawyers within free legal aid must be paid better, he says.

– Lawyers who work on such cases must receive a competitive remuneration, otherwise they will drop out. The consequence is that those who are sentenced for violence and abuse receive a poorer offer, and poorer help.

Mette Yvonne Larsen, Leader of the Danish Bar Association’s Advocacy Group, regrets that they will have to extend the strike further.

– Children and other vulnerable groups will unfortunately find that their cases are postponed and that they do not come for questioning within the statutory deadline. Responsibility for this rests solely with the Minister of Justice and the government.

The Bar Association says that the extension of the strike reflects the deep frustration that defenders, aid and legal aid lawyers across Norway feel, and says they will continue to extend the strike until they are heard.

Assistance lawyers at Barnehuset in Bergen will be taken out from Monday 29 April.