The three lawyers who resigned from José Sócrates' defence are already under the disciplinary jurisdiction of the Bar Association. In Lisbon, the Deontology Council did not grant access to José Preto's files.
Sócrates' lawyer sanctioned in 3 disciplinary proceedings
Sunday, 29 March 2026RSS
Context & Explainers
The Bar Association (Ordem dos Advogados) is the professional body that regulates lawyers in Portugal, manages ethics and professional registration, and organises legal aid and court-appointed defence. The association can set up permanent teams of court-appointed lawyers if it judges the current system inadequate, which is why the Ministry of Justice said it would not object to such a move.
