TV 2's The Black Swan receives legal advice to change the codex

TV 2's The Black Swan faces instructions to change codex

TV 2's documentary "The Black Swan" receives instructions to update the code of conduct from the Bar Council.

Lawyers must not commit or assist in criminal activities, the Bar Council adds to the code of conduct on top of the documentary.

Amira Smajic, the mole in TV 2's documentary, was sentenced to three months in prison without parole and 15 months of probation by the Court in Odense in January for offenses including document fraud and fraud. (Photo: © Robert Wengler, Ritzau Scanpix)

From /ritzau/ 10 minutes ago

The Bar Council has decided to update the lawyer's code of conduct following the TV 2 documentary "The Black Swan". The Bar Council is the executive committee of the Bar Association.

Among other things, the rules are sharpened to state that lawyers must not commit or assist in criminal activities.

The Bar Association writes in a press release (https://www.advokatsamfundet.dk/nyheder-medier/nyheder/2025/de-advokatetiske-regler-udvides-efter-dokumentaren-den-sorte-svane/) that the TV 2 documentary is responsible for the update.

"The Black Swan" caused a stir when it was aired last May.

In the documentary, business lawyer Amira Smajic reveals that she has been acting as a go-between between the criminal underworld and lawyers and other influential business people for years.

This includes a lawyer, according to the Bar Council, who has made statements that contradict good legal conduct.

Another lawyer who also participated in the documentary's covert recordings has been charged with money laundering of several million kroner.

- It must be clear to all lawyers what they can and cannot assist with. And above all, it should be clearly evident that lawyers never assist in criminal activities, writes the Bar Council.

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Lawyers must not solicit information

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Several of the situations seen in the documentary are not directly described in the lawyer's code of conduct.

- Perhaps because it is evident that they are in conflict with good legal conduct, explains Bar Council Chairman Martin Lavesen in the press release.

- It applies, among other things, to committing or assisting in criminal activities. But we want to make it clear to everyone and emphasize the importance of these situations, and therefore we have chosen to add a series of provisions to the lawyer's code of conduct that clarify these situations, he says.

The additions to the code of conduct state that lawyers must not give the impression of being willing to assist in criminal activities towards clients or others - not even to extract information from the client.

Lawyers are also advised not to help clients if lawyers are threatened, pressured, or intimidated by them.

The Bar Council also sharpens the rules for when lawyers may use client accounts in their work.

The new additions to the lawyer's code of conduct take formal effect from July 1, 2025. The Bar Council considers them to be in effect from the date of publication.

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