In 2010, the state paid around SEK 1 billion to public defenders, in 2020 around SEK 1.85 billion.

An increase that the National Audit Office reacted to and therefore initiated an audit that will be completed this autumn.

According to the National Audit Office, there are three main reasons for the sharp increase.

First and foremost, that more lawyers today enter the police investigation early.

Previously, this usually only happened when prosecutions were brought in Sweden.

The goals have also become larger and more complex.

All in all, this means that more time is charged per lawyer.

In addition, lawyers' hourly pay is increased year by year following a Riksdag decision. 

Risk of salted bills 

At the same time, the National Audit Office believes that the current system for requesting compensation makes it difficult for the courts to control the lawyers' work.

Cost bills can be sweeping.

"Reading of preliminary examination, 36 hours" can be stated, for example, without specifying what times or even what date the work took place. 

With the system we have today, is there a risk that lawyers will "salt" their expense bills? 


- Yes, of course it does, says Per Dackenberg, who leads the audit at the National Audit Office. 

“Stepmother-treated issues” 

The government has also reacted to the increased costs and has commissioned the Swedish National Courts Administration to review them.

Lars-Gunnar Lundh, lawyer at Västmanland District Court, is one of those working with it and he believes that the system has shortcomings. 

- As it is now, I do not think it is good.

I think there is every reason to review how the accounts are designed and how to compare the costs as a whole, he says. 

It is the Swedish Courts Administration that pays the compensation, but it is Sweden's more than 50 courts that must check the lawyers' cost bills.  

- We could probably be better at this.

You sit in a long trial and then these bills come in the end and then there is a lot of other things to think about.

They are probably quite stepmotherly treated these issues, says Lars-Gunnar Lundh, lawyer Västmanland District Court.

Welcome review

The Bar Association tells SVT that it welcomes a review of the system.

Do lawyers salt bills?

- 

I want to say that lawyers do not, says Mia Edwall Insulander, Secretary General, Swedish Bar Association.

- Lawyers are not allowed to pay for jobs they do not perform and all cost bills are approved by the courts.

More about this in SVT's Crime of the Week tonight, SVT 1 at 9.30 pm and SVT Play.