Randers court advertises two vacant defence counsel posts with December deadline

Retten i Randers has advertised two vacant posts as beneficieret advokat — the Danish scheme for lawyers who serve as public defenders and who take cases for parties with free legal process. The notice was published in Statstidende on 6 November 2026 under reference S04112026-68, and the application deadline is 4 December 2026. A beneficium is granted for a period of ten years.

The scheme is anchored in the Administration of Justice Act (retsplejeloven) and in Justitsministeriet’s circular letter no. 9418 of 30 June 2020, which the notice quotes on the criteria for appointment. The circular states that the decisive consideration is the applicant’s qualifications, with weight given to experience in criminal cases or criminal law generally. The notice also sets out how the file travels: the applications, addressed to Civilstyrelsen, are sent to the court in Randers, which forwards them with a recommendation via the president of Vestre Landsret to Civilstyrelsen.

What the two posts cover

The two appointments cover criminal defence and representation in cases where a party has free legal process or is otherwise assigned a lawyer under the rules of the Administration of Justice Act. The remit is geographically defined:

• Cases heard by Retten i Randers.
• Cases heard by Vestre Landsret that were handled at first instance by, or referred from, Retten i Randers.

Acceptance carries a duty to appear personally in the cases assigned. The notice adds a financial caveat: a lawyer appointed at a city court is not entitled to reimbursement of travel expenses for appearances within the jurisdiction, under § 333, stk. 1, 2. pkt., and § 741, stk. 1, 2. pkt., of the Administration of Justice Act.

The criteria applicants are measured against

Beyond criminal-law experience, the quoted circular lists further elements: right of audience before a court of appeal (møderet for landsret), procedural experience including civil cases, and demonstrated skill and engagement in practice as a lawyer. Civil and family-law experience may also count, as may the applicant’s standing as a litigating lawyer in the eyes of the courts concerned.

Two further considerations are spelled out: the geographical spread of lawyers within the jurisdiction, and the speedy conduct of cases — applicants who are not already beneficieret in another jurisdiction are preferred.

How to apply

The application must be sent to Retten i Randers with the lawyer’s appointment (advokatbeskikkelse) and any other enclosures attached. Before forwarding a recommendation, the court president will obtain the consent of the recommended lawyers to collect statements from Advokatrådet, Civilstyrelsen and the relevant chief of police, plus information from the criminal register.

• Deadline: 4 December 2026.
• Address: Retten i Randers, Nørregade 1, 8900 Randers.
• Secure email: ret.ran@domstol.dk, att.: præsidentsekretariatet.
• Marked for: Civilstyrelsen.

The vacancy follows recent turnover in the Randers complement. Statstidende recorded on 14 October 2026 that the beneficium held by Lars Fredslund lapsed with effect from 1 October 2026, his appointment of 2 January 1991 having been deposited with Civilstyrelsen; on 28 August 2026 the gazette recorded that Kasper Fuhr Christensen had been appointed as beneficieret advokat at the court.

Why it matters locally

Who holds these two posts determines which lawyers in the Randers jurisdiction can be assigned to criminal defence and to legally aided civil and family cases, including appeals that reach Vestre Landsret. Because a beneficium runs for a decade, the 4 December 2026 deadline will shape the local defence bar — and the pace at which assigned cases in and around Randers can be heard — well into the 2030s.

Source: Statstidende, 6 November 2026, Forskellige kundgørelser (official reference: S04112026-68).