Skip to content
AS
Alonso Sala
CRIMINAL LAWYERS
ES

Article 467 of the Criminal Code

TÍTULO XX — Delitos contra la Administración de Justicia

Last updated: · How we verify this content

travel_exploreGlobal search for this article

Full text

1. El abogado o procurador que, habiendo asesorado o tomado la defensa o representación de alguna persona, sin el consentimiento de ésta defienda o represente en el mismo asunto a quien tenga intereses contrarios, será castigado con la pena de multa de seis a doce meses e inhabilitación especial para su profesión de dos a cuatro años. 2. El abogado o procurador que, por acción u omisión, perjudique de forma manifiesta los intereses que le fueren encomendados será castigado con las penas de multa de doce a veinticuatro meses e inhabilitación especial para empleo, cargo público, profesión u oficio de uno a cuatro años. Si los hechos fueran realizados por imprudencia grave, se impondrán las penas de multa de seis a doce meses e inhabilitación especial para su profesión de seis meses a dos años.

Explanation and defense

What Article 467 of the Criminal Code punishes

Article 467 defines the professional disloyalty of a lawyer or court agent, among the offences against the administration of justice. It covers two distinct conducts. The first is a conflict of interest: a lawyer or court agent who, having advised or taken on the defence or representation of a person, defends or represents in the same matter, and without that person's consent, someone with opposing interests. The second is harm to the client's interests: a professional who, by act or omission, manifestly harms the interests entrusted to them.

Penalty

A conflict of interest carries a fine of six to twelve months and special disqualification from the profession for two to four years. Manifest harm to the client's interests is sanctioned with a fine of twelve to twenty-four months and special disqualification from employment, public office, profession or trade for one to four years; where the harm is caused by gross negligence, the penalty is a fine of six to twelve months and disqualification of six months to two years.

Defense strategy

The defense turns on the manifest nature of the harm: not every unfortunate step or difference of professional opinion amounts to the offence, which requires evident, objectively verifiable harm to the interests entrusted. In the conflict-of-interest form, it is central to establish whether the client's consent was given and whether the interests were genuinely opposing within the same matter.

Quick reference

Orientative data computed from the highest prison term mentioned in this article. Aggravated or mitigated subtypes, non-custodial penalties and concurrence rules may alter the outcome in each specific case.

timerLimitation period calculatorhistoryRecord expungement calculator
arrow_backBack to Criminal Code index
call