two-month strike, disruption to the administration of justice, and the inconvenience of blackouts have sparked a rush of energy within the sector. The group most visibly stirred by the tension seems to be the lawyers who work within the justice system. The forensic secretaries have kept a steady pace since January 24, indicating a possible end to the impasse if the Ministry of Justice approves the promised salary improvements agreed a year ago.
“They are highly trained professionals, yet there is a reluctance to work”, some say. “They display a banner that shows 600 authorizations, but 597 have been issued, including letters rogatory and related tasks, all dependent on signatures. The Ministry needs to redefine what they should be doing and trim activities that do not match their role, or assign duties that match the fees charged.”
These remarks come from Justice officials when asked about their official duties across different jurisdictions. They interact with patrons and the managers of judicial offices.
Legal security
“Our aim is to establish legal certainty.” This is how a forensic lawyer describes the purpose of this body, one that few have truly understood. The speaker adds that their presence ensures that everyone, including judges, fulfills their obligations. If this body disappeared, the administration of justice would suffer greatly.
Managers, processors, and assistants such as the LAJ see things differently. The LAJ reports to the Generalitat while others report to the ministry. “If judges or officials in the general organs are absent, the court faces disruption. The non-existent LAJ would not notice until it matters most”, one official notes.
This viewpoint is a stark one, shared by many public servants, yet not all agree with broad generalizations. Some are willing to name and recognize LAJs who have shown dedication and responsibility, insisting they are the minority rather than the norm.
“There are individuals who fail to perform, just as there are officers and judges I would not hire for a private company. It depends on the people, and therefore the work of the collective cannot be dismissed. Those who do not understand our current actions as a result of the strike already know the situation”, a lawyer admits, while another notes that the communication strategy failed to make the public understand the reasons for the struggle and the importance of these duties.
Tasks: while authorities argued that forensic lawyers empower the system, the LAJ handbook runs 176 pages outlining all functions of the judicial authority and their allocation. The LAJ is essentially responsible for verifying what administrators, handlers, and legal aid are doing. That is their duty, they say.
Such records include case lot management, the liquidation of sentences, and the drafting of attestations and testimonies. Judging by positions on the subject, no one can claim ownership of all tasks. There were public records of hearings where participation was minimized, often handed down without direct appearance, a practice that raised serious concerns about the integrity of the process.
Door
“As office managers, LAJs serve as doors we all must pass through. When they close, entry and exit become blocked. With the strike, many did not cease working, and even those not involved in notifying suspensions faced travel and access issues from outside the province or beyond. This frustrates an official who speaks up.
“We do not question the right to strike; we question what they want. It seems they are well paid and should not expect the same standard of accountability as judges or prosecutors because the responsibilities and access are not the same”, another processor with decades of experience explains, noting that tasks are handed over, and training is one thing, delegation another.
They express fatigue with the ongoing push to quantify performance, suggesting that critics of the justice administration may find new roles after the strike. Yet a collapse in the system would require improvised contingency measures and arbitration to prevent a total standstill.
“It seems the protests did not fully account for the broader impact”, a processor reflects. “Even when their requests were met, the image suffered.” A final professional notes, with a sense of obligation: “We had to act for the sake of honor.”