The Portuguese General Council of the Bar Association (Ordem dos Advogados) has decided to centralize the appointment of court-appointed lawyers (advogados oficiosos) for complex legal cases, shifting this responsibility from regional councils to the national body. This change aims to ensure better coordination, speed, and uniformity in legal representation, especially in high-impact cases requiring specialized legal support. The measure is effective immediately and responds to challenges such as lawyers withdrawing from cases like that of José Sócrates.