Extra Lawyers on Standby for Possible Arrests
The Illustrious College of Lawyers of Barcelona (ICAB) has activated an emergency legal assistance plan, reinforcing on-call services with 15 additional professionals this weekend in anticipation of possible disturbances in the city. Coordinated with the Department of Justice of the Generalitat and the Mossos d'Esquadra, the move increases the number of duty lawyers for Barcelona’s General Criminal duty from 13 to 20, and boosts the Juvenile duty team from 2 to 10 lawyers. This expansion was announced on Thursday 29 October 2026, following renewed calls on social media for disruptive actions similar to protests held the previous weekend.
Focus on Speed and Specialised Support
The ICAB’s enhanced on-call service aims to speed up lawyer appointments and ensure effective, individualised legal assistance, particularly for minors. The Juvenile duty expansion reflects the specialised attention required in cases involving under-18s, the ICAB said in a statement published on its official website. Additionally, staffing for the Duty Lawyer service will be reinforced to improve the handling of legal aid requests, streamline lawyer assignments, and strengthen coordination and monitoring of assistance.
The preparation of the device stems from last weekend’s experience, when exceptional coordination between the Mossos d’Esquadra and the ICAB’s Duty and Assistance to Detained Persons service enabled a rapid response to a high volume of arrests.
Prosecutors Also Preparing for High Volume
The Public Prosecutor's Office plans to reinforce Barcelona’s three on-call courts for adults, anticipating more than 20 reports per court. This follows a documented trend: in 2025, prosecutors handled 7,746 urgent proceedings, with July and August seeing daily peaks exceeding 24 cases. The workload has previously been described as “alarming and fatiguing” for on-duty staff. The city remains the only judicial district in Catalonia with 24-hour daily shifts and three detention courts, underscoring the pressure on its legal infrastructure.
What This Means for Residents
Residents should expect a heightened legal and law enforcement presence in central areas over the weekend. Anyone detained during protests is entitled to immediate legal assistance, which the ICAB says will be available without delay. Legal aid requests will be managed through the ICAB’s Duty and Assistance to Detained Persons (TOAD) service, which continues to activate additional guards as needed.
Sources: Europa Press, barcelonapress.com.
