The Norwegian Victim Lawyer Role in a Nordic Context: Developments, Tensions and Adaptations

• In Event: Victim participation in criminal justice in Europe

Abstract

To be able to participate in the criminal justice system, victims generally need legal support. In the Nordic jurisdictions, the victim lawyer has become a common feature largely due to the advocacy of the women’s movements and their concern for survivors of rape and other forms of sexual violence. In this paper we focus on role and professional status of the Norwegian victim lawyer based on interviews and court observations. Against the backdrop of the other Nordic jurisdictions, we begin by explaining how the Norwegian victim lawyer came about, describe its current role and function, and finally identify some of the tensions that characterize aspects of the Norwegian victim lawyer role. The findings indicate that the introduction of the victim lawyer in Norway has created some tensions and contestations which has required adaptations in the legal field. These tensions have revolved around both professional and political issues, i.e., the relationship between legal and non-legal work; the boundaries of the victim lawyer role; and tensions between professional and political loyalties.

Authors

• Solveig Laugerud, Department of Criminology and Sociology of Law (IKRS), Faculty of Law, University of Oslo, Norway

• Hildur Fjóla Antonsdottir, School of Humanities and Social Sciences, University of Akureyri, Iceland