sou · GNB331 · 2000-01-01 00:00:00 — 3.opåkallad hänvändelse till utomstående, såsom motpartens anhöriga eller eljest närstående, arbetsgivare, överordnade och arbetskamrater eller organisation, som motparten tillhör, så ock hot om sådan opåkallad åtgärd. 38 § Advokat bör inte vidta rättsliga åtgärder mot motparten utan att först ha tillskrivit denne och berett honom skälig tid att ta ställning till klientens anspråk och träffa uppgörelse i godo. Är omständigheterna sådana, att ett dröjsmål med vidtagande av rättsliga åtgärder kan vålla klienten rättsförlust eller annan skada, eller föreligger eljest särskilda skäl för att skyndsamt vidta rättsliga åtgärder, står det dock advokaten fritt att utan föregående meddelande till motparten vidta de åtgärder som klientens intresse i varje särskilt fall kräver. 39 § Advokat får inte som villkor för att bevilja av motparten begärt anstånd med betalning eller annan prestation uppställa krav på att motparten skall ersätta kostnader, som han inte lagligen är skyldig att gälda och som inte heller rimligen bör åläggas honom. 40 § Advokat får inte inför domstol eller annan myndighet förebringa bevisning om förhållande, som är nedsättande för motparten, eller göra för motparten kränkande eller förklenande uttalanden, där bevisningen eller uttalandena inte är påkallade för talans utförande eller eljest för ett behörigt tillvaratagande av klientens intressen. Även i övrigt skall advokat avhålla sig från åtgärder eller uttalanden, som är ägnade att i onödan kränka eller såra motparten. 41 § Advokat får inte vilseleda motparten genom att om faktiska förhållanden eller innehållet i rättsregler lämna uppgifter, som han vet är oriktiga. 42 § Företräder eller biträder advokat klient vid förhandlingar med motpart som inte anlitar ombud eller biträde, bör han, efter vad förhållandena i varje särskilt fall kräver, fästa motpartens uppmärksamhet på att det i hans uppdrag inte ingår att tillvarata dennes intressen samt tillråda honom att anlita eller rådfråga annan advokat. 43 § Advokat får inte utan motpartens samtycke i rättegång åberopa av denne framfört förlikningserbjudande. 44 § Såsom ombud eller biträde i rättegång är advokat skyldig att i allt iaktta vad och andra författningar rörande processen föreskriver. Han är skyldig att ordentligt sätta sig in i saken och att bedriva denna med den omsorg och skyndsamhet som god rättskipning kräver. Av rätten meddelade förelägganden skall efterkommas och förfrågningar från rättens sida utan dröjsmål besvaras. Uppstår hinder för inställelse el. dyl., skall rätten skyndsamt underrättas därom. Upphör advokatens uppdrag som rättegångsombud eller rättegångs- biträde, är han skyldig tillse att meddelande därom utan dröjsmål lämnas till rätten. 45 § Advokat är inte, med mindre särskild anledning därtill föreligger, skyldig att kontrollera riktigheten av de uppgifter som hans klient lämnar honom men får inte vid talans utförande lämna uppgift, som han vet är osann, eller bestrida uppgift, som han vet är sann. Advokat får inte medverka till att bevis undertrycks eller förvanskas men är inte skyldig - och mot klientens önskan inte heller berättigad - att i rättegången förete eller åberopa bevis eller lämna uppgift, som talar till klientens nackdel, med mindre skyldighet därtill åläggs honom jämlikt stadgandena om vittnes- och editionsplikt. 46 § Advokat får inte utöva otillbörlig påverkan på vittne. Advokat är, utan hinder av att vittne åberopats av motparten, oförhindrad att sätta sig i förbindelse med vittnet för att göra sig underrättad om vad vittnet kan uppge. Advokat får inte lämna för vittne nedsättande uppgifter eller om vittnet göra kränkande eller förklenande uttalanden, där uppgifterna eller uttalandena inte är påkallade för talans utförande eller eljest för ett behörigt tillvaratagande av klientens intressen. Vad nu sagts gäller även uppgifter eller uttalanden om annan. Förhållandet till andra myndigheter 47 § Vad som här ovan är sagt om förhållandet till domstol skall i tillämpliga delar iakttas jämväl i förhållande till annan myndighet. 48 § Advokat skall gentemot kolleger visa den hänsyn och det tillmötesgående som god kollegialitet kräver. Kollegiala hänsyn får dock inte föranleda till handling eller underlåtenhet, som kan skada den egna klientens intressen. 49 § Anlitar motparten advokat, skall förhandlingar i saken föras med advokaten och meddelanden i ärendet riktas till honom. Det är inte tillåtet att, med förbigående av motpartens advokat, söka kontakt med motparten personligen. där inte fråga är om åtgärd, som lagligen måste företas gentemot motparten själv, eller ock motpartens advokat genom bortovaro, underlåtenhet att besvara brev el.dyl. direkt till motparten nödvändig. I sådant fall bör motpartens advokat underrättas. Betalning till motparten skall erläggas till dennes advokat, förutsatt att denne styrker sin behörighet att ta emot betalningen. 50 § Anlitar advokat på klientens vägnar kollega, t.ex. såsom platsombud, är han, där han inte gjort förbehåll om annat, skyldig att ansvara för kollegans arvode och kostnader, oavsett om klienten tillhandahåller erforderligt belopp. 51 § Kritik mot kollega skall vara saklig och måttfull. Advokat får inte genom otillbörligt hot om anmälan eller rättslig åtgärd mot motpartens advokat söka förmå denne att vidta eller underlåta åtgärd. 52 § Advokat är skyldig att inom förelagd tid inkomma med yttrande eller svaromål, som begärs av samfundets styrelse eller disciplinnämnd eller av generalsekreteraren eller dennes medhjälpare. Han är därvid, utan hinder av den tystnadsplikt som åvilar honom, skyldig att fullständigt och sanningsenligt besvara framställda frågor och lämna begärda uppgifter. till 1 § andra stycket Kravet på iakttagande av god advokatsed leder till begränsningar i handlingsfriheten vid tillvaratagandet av klientens intressen. Sålunda medför hänsynen till rättsordningen samt till motparten och tredje man att en advokat inte får i sin yrkesutövning begagna alla till buds stående medel. Att en advokat inte får medverka till brott är självklart, men han får enligt god advokatsed inte heller jämna vägen för annans brottsliga verksamhet1 eller främja klientens intressen på ett otillbörligt sätt. Han skall exempelvis inte medverka till en rättshandling, som är ogiltig enligt avtalslagens regler, och han skall avböja varje uppdrag, som går ut på att någon skall vilseledas eller eljest otillbörligen förmås att företa en rättshandling. Han skall också avstå från uppdrag som måste leda till att 1 TSA 1978 sid. 375, fall 12. annans rätt kränks.2 Inte heller får han medverka till att skriftliga handlingar upprättas för skens skull eller ges osant innehåll.3 Han skall inte låna sig till att upprätta avtal eller andra skriftliga handlingar av sådant innehåll att det kan befaras att de kommer att brukas i otillbörligt syfte. För att kravet på iakttagande av god advokatsed skall uppfyllas är det sålunda inte tillräckligt att advokaten förvissar sig om att det förfaringssätt som han rekommenderar eller eljest medverkar till inte är lagstridigt. Av en advokat måste fordras att han handlar på ett sätt som främjar hederlighet och redbarhet inom rättslivet, inte på ett sätt som verkar i motsatt riktning. Av bestämmelsen följer att advokat inte får erbjuda sig att avstå från klientens rättshjälpsavgift och inte heller utan skäl får underlåta att tillföra sig sådan avgift. Motsvarande gäller beträffande självriskbelopp i rättsskyddsärende. Advokat, som driver verksamhet som försäkringsagent eller auktionsförrättare, är skyldig att vid rådgivning eller annat biträde rörande angelägenhet, i vilken advokaten till följd av sådan verksamhet har ett ekonomiskt intresse, upplysa uppdragsgivaren därom. Med gemensam kontorsorganisation jämställs i detta sammanhang varje organiserat samarbete, som är ägnat att framkalla risk för att advokatens tystnads- och diskretionsplikt åsidosätts. Beträffande uppdrag som styrelseledamot, se bl.a. TSA 1962 s. 17, fall 8. Se beträffande försvararens relationer till den misstänkte RB 21:3 andra stycket. Beträffande biträde av två eller flera personer (parter) i samma ärende, se bl.a. TSA 1975 s. 98, fall 5, samt 1976 s. 115, fall 4. Se även artikel TSA 1984 s. 239 f. 2TSA 1968 sid. 64, fall 24, samt 1967 sid. 21, fall 6. 3TSA 1979 sid. 77, fall 5. Se TSA 1977 s. 174, fall 3 (angående advokats förhållande till rättshjälpsnämnden när fråga är om byte av biträde enligt rättshjälpslagen) Vad som sagts i 20 § utgör inte hinder för advokat, som driver verksamhet som försäkringsagent eller auktionsförrättare, att med klientens vetskap ta emot provision, som tillkommer honom i denna verksamhet. Har den tilltalade i fall som avses i RB 31:2 biträtts av advokat, som inte är offentlig försvarare, utgör advokatens yrkande i rättegången övre gränsen för vad han får påföra klienten i rättegångsarvode. Code of Conduct for Lawyers in Community 1.1 The Function of the Lawyer in Society In a society founded on respect for the rule of law the lawyer fulfils a special role. His duties do not begin and end with the faithful performance of what he is instructed to do so far as the law permits. A lawyer must serve the interests of as well as those whose rights and liberties he is trusted to assert and defend and it is his duty not only to plead his client's cause but to be his adviser. A lawyer's function therefore lays on him a variety of legal and moral obligations (sometimes appearing to be in conflict with each other) towards: the courts and other authorities before whom the lawyer pleads his clients cause or acts on his behalf, the legal profession in general and each fellow member of it in particular; and the public for whom the existence of a free and independent profession, bound together by respect for rules made by the profession itself, is an essential means of safeguarding human rights in face of the power of the state and other interests in society. 1.2The Nature of Rules of Professional Conduct 1.2.1Rules of professional conduct are designed through their willing acceptance by those to whom they apply to ensure the proper performance by the lawyer of a function which is recognised as essential in all civilised societies. The failure of the lawyer to observe these rules must in the last resort result in a disciplinary sanction. 1.2.2The particular rules of each Bar or arise from its own traditions. They are adapted to the organisation and sphere of activity of the profession in the concerned and to its judicial and administrative procedures and to its national legislation. It is neither possible nor desirable that they should be taken out of their context nor that an attempt should be made to give general application to rules which are inherently incapable of such application . The particular rules of each Bar and nevertheless are based on the same values and in most cases demonstrate a common foundation. 1.3 The Purpose of the Code 1.3.1The continued integration of Community and the increasing frequency of the cross-border activities of lawyers within the Community have made necessary in the public interest the statement of common rules which apply to all lawyers from the Community whatever Bar or they belong to in relation to their cross-border practice. A particular purpose of the statement of those rules is to mitigate the difficulties which result from the application of double deontology" as set out in Article 4 of the E.C. Directive 77/249 of 22nd 1977. 1.3.2The organisations representing the legal profession through the CCBE propose that the rules codified in the following articles: be recognised at the present time as the expression of a consensus of all the Bars and of Community; be adopted as enforceable rules as soon as possible in accordance with national or Community procedures in relation to the cross- border activities of the lawyer in Community; be taken into account in all revisions of national rules of deontology or professional practice with a view to their progressive harmonisation. They further express the wish that the national rules of deontology or professional practice be interpreted and applied whenever possible in a way consistent with the rules in this Code. After the rules in this Code have been adopted as enforceable rules in relation to his cross-border activities the lawyer will remain bound to observe the rules of the Bar or to which he belongs to the extent that they are consistent with the rules in this Code. 1.4 Field of application Ratione Personae The following rules shall apply to lawyers of Community as they are defined by the Directive 77/249 of 22nd 1977. 1.5 Field of application Ratione Materiae Without prejudice to the pursuit of a progressive harmonisation of rules of deontology or professional practice which apply only internally within a , the following rules shall apply to the cross-border activities of the lawyer within Community. Cross-border activities shall mean: (a)all professional contact with lawyers of Member States other than his own; and (b)the professional activities of the lawyer in a other than his own, whether or not the lawyer is physically present in that . In these rules: Home means the of the Bar or to which the lawyer belongs. " means any other where the lawyer on cross-border activities. Competent authority means the professional organisation (s) or authority (ies) of the concerned responsible for the laying down of rules of professional conduct and the administration of discipline of lawyers. 2.1.1The many duties to which a lawyer is subject require his absolute independence, free from all other influence, especially such as may arise from his personal interests or external pressure. Such independence is as necessary to trust in the process of as the impartiality of the judge. A lawyer must therefore avoid any impairment of his independence and be careful not to compromise his professional standards in order to please his client, the court or third parties. 2.1.2This independence is necessary in non-contentious matters as well as in litigation. Advice given by a lawyer to his client has no value if it is given only to ingratiate himself, to serve his personal interests or in response to outside pressure. 2.2 Trust and Personal Integrity Relationships of trust can only exist if a lawyer's personal honour, honesty and integrity are beyond doubt. For the lawyer these traditional virtues are professional obligations. 2.3.1It is of the essence of a lawyer's function that he should be told by his client things which the client would not tell to others, and that he should be the recipient of other information on a basis of confidence. Without the certainty of confidentiality there cannot be trust. Confidentiality is therefore a primary and fundamental right and duty of the lawyer. 2.3.2A lawyer shall accordingly respect the confidentiality of all information given to him by his client, or received by him about his client or others in the course of rendering services to his client. 2.3.3The obligation of confidentiality is not limited in time. 2.3.4A lawyer shall require his associates and staff and anyone engaged by him in the course of providing professional services to observe the same obligation of confidentiality. 2.4 Respect for the Rules of Other Bars and Under Community (in particular under the Directive 77/249 of 22nd 1977) a lawyer from another may be bound to comply with the rules of the Bar or of the host . Lawyers have a duty to inform themselves as to the rules which will affect them in the performance of any particular activity. 2.5.1In order to perform his functions with due independence and in a which is consistent with his duty to participate in the administration of a lawyer is excluded from some occupations. 2.5.2A lawyer who acts in the representation or the defence of a client in legal proceedings or before any public authorities in a host there observe the rules regarding incompatible occupations as they are applied to lawyers of the host . 2.5.3A lawyer established in a host in which he wishes to participate directly in commercial or other activities not connected with the practice of the law shall respect the rules regarding forbidden or incompatible occupations as they are applied to lawyers of that . 2.6.1 A lawyer should not advertise or seek personal publicity where this is not permitted. In other cases a lawyer should only advertise or seek personal publicity to the extent and in the permitted by the rules to which he is subject. 2.6.2 Advertising and personal publicity shall be regarded as taking place where it is permitted, if the lawyer concerned shows that it was placed for the purpose of reaching clients or potential clients located where such advertising or personal publicity is permitted and its communication elsewhere is incidental. 2.7 The Clients lnterests Subject to due observance of all rules of law and professional conduct, a lawyer must always act in the best interests of his client and must put those interests before his own interests or those of fellow members of the legal profession. 3 RELATIONS WITH CLIENTS 3.1Acceptance and Termination of Instructions 3.1.1A lawyer shall not handle a case for a party except on his instructions. He may, however, act in a case in which he has been instructed by another lawyer who himself acts for the party or where the case has been assigned to him by a competent body. 3.1.2A lawyer shall advise and represent his client promptly conscientiously and diligently. He shall undertake personal responsibility for the discharge of the instructions given to him. He shall keep his client informed as to the progress of the matter entrusted to him. 3.1.3A lawyer shall not handle a matter which he knows or ought to know he is not competent to handle, without co-operating with a lawyer who is competent to handle it. A lawyer shall not accept instructions unless he can discharge those instructions promptly having regard to the pressure of other work. 3.1.4A lawyer shall not be entitled to exercise his right to withdraw from a case in such a way or in such circumstances that the client may be unable to find other legal assistance in time to prevent prejudice being suffered by the client. 3.2 Conflict of Interest 3.2.1A lawyer may not advise, represent or act on behalf of two or more clients in the same matter if there is a conflict, or a significant risk of a conflict, between the interests of those clients. 3.2.2A lawyer must cease to act for both clients when a conflict of interests arises between those clients and also whenever there is a risk of a breach of confidence or where his independence may be impaired. 3.2.3A lawyer must also refrain from acting for a new client if there is a risk of a breach of confidences entrusted to the lawyer by a former client or if the knowledge which the lawyer possesses of the affairs of the former client would give an undue advantage to the new client. 3.2.4Where lawyers are practising in association, paragraphs 3.2.1 to 3.2.3above shall apply to the association and all its members. 3.3Pactum de Quota Litis 3.3.1A lawyer shall not be entitled to make a pactum de quota litis. 3.3.2By "pactum de quota litis" is meant an agreement between a lawyer and his client entered into prior to the final conclusion of a matter to which the client is a party, by virtue of which the client undertakes to pay the lawyer a share of the result regardless of whether this is represented by a sum of money or by any other benefit achieved by the client upon the conclusion of the matter. 3.3.3The pactum de quota litis does not include an agreement that fees be charged in proportion to the value of a matter handled by the lawyer if this is in accordance with an officially approved fee scale or under the control of competent authority having jurisdiction over the lawyer. 3.4.1A fee charged by a lawyer shall be fully disclosed to his client and shall be fair and reasonable. 3.4.2Subject to any proper agreement to the contrary between a lawyer and his client fees charged by a lawyer shall be subject to regulation in accordance with the rules applied to members of the Bar or to which he belongs. If he belongs to more than one Bar or the rules applied shall be those with the closest connection to the contract between the lawyer and his client. 3.5 Payment on Account If a lawyer requires a payment on account of his fees and/or disbursements such payment should not exceed a reasonable estimate of the fees and probable disbursements involved. Failing such payment, a lawyer may withdraw from the case or refuse to handle it, but subject always to paragraph 3.1.4 above. 3.6Fee Sharing with Non-Lawyers 3.6.1Subject as after-mentioned a lawyer may not share his fees with a person who is not a lawyer. 3.6.2The provisions of 6.1 above shall not preclude a lawyer from paying a fee, commission or other compensation to a deceased lawyer's heirs or to a retired lawyer in respect of taking over the deceased or retired lawyer's practice. A lawyer shall inform his client of the availability of legal aid where applicable. 3.8.1 When lawyers at any time in the course of their practice come into possession of funds on behalf of their clients or third parties (hereinafter called "clients funds") it shall be obligatory: 3.8.1.1That clients funds shall always be held in an account in a bank or similar institution subject to supervision of Public Authority and that all client's funds received by a lawyer should be paid into such an account unless the client explicitly or by implication agrees that the funds should be dealt with otherwise. 3.8.1.2That any account in which the client´s funds are held in the name of the lawyer should indicate in the title or designation that the funds are held on behalf of the client or client`s of the lawyer. 3.8.1.3That any account or accounts in which clients funds are held in the name of the lawyer should at all times contain a sum which is not less than the total of the clients funds are held by the lawyer. 3.8.1.4That all client`s funds should be available for payment to clients on demand or upon such conditions as the client may authorise. 3.8.1.5That payments made from client`s funds on behalf of a client to any other person including a) payments made to or for one client from funds held for another client and b) payment of the lawyer's fees, be prohibited except to the extent that they are permitted by law or have the express or implied authority of the client for whom the payment is being made. 3.8.1.6That the lawyer shall maintain full and accurate records, available to each client on request, showing all his dealings with his client´s funds and distinguishing client's funds from other funds held by him. 3.8.1.7That the competent authorities in all Member States should have powers to allow them to examine and investigate on a confidential basis the financial records of lawyer's client´s funds to ascertain whether or not the rules which they make are being complied with and to impose sanctions upon lawyers who fail to comply with those rules. 3.8.2Subject as aftermentioned, and without prejudice to the rules set out in 3.8.1 above, a lawyer who holds clients funds in the course of carrying on practice in any must comply with the rules relating to holding and accounting for client's funds which are applied by the competent authorities of the Home . 3.8.3A lawyer who on practice or provides services in a may with the agreement of the competent authorities of the Home and concerned comply with the requirements of the to the exclusion of the requirements of the Home . In that event he shall take reasonable steps to inform his clients that he complies with the requirements in force in the .