The report analyses the current framework governing the appointment of legal representatives of victims (LRVs) as well as Common Legal Representatives of Victims (CLRV). We examine some of the key factors governing the selection of counsel for victims as well as victims’ limited opportunities to challenge such appointments. We also review the practice of legal representation. We assess whether there may be a need to better spell out lawyers’ roles and responsibilities, and review the difficulties faced by counsel when communicating and taking instructions from victims and how to overcome them. Lastly, we consider whether additional monitoring mechanisms may help, and what these might look like, and whether the current disciplinary framework is adequate to address actual or perceived under performance.
