Practice Directions

PRACTICE DIRECTION – 21.1

SOLICITORS – APPEARANCE IN OPEN COURT

　

PART I – RIGHTS OF AUDIENCE

1.     In addition to the cases in which solicitors already have rights of audience in the Court of First Instance, and without prejudice to the discretion of a judge to allow a solicitor to represent his client in open court in an emergency, a solicitor may appear in the Court of First Instance in formal or unopposed proceedings, that is to say those proceedings where —

       (a)    by reason of agreement between the parties there is unlikely to be any argument; and

       (b)　the court will not be called upon to exercise a discretion.

2.    A solicitor may also represent his client in the Court of First Instance where judgment is delivered in open  court following a hearing in chambers at which that solicitor conducted the case for his client.

PART II – COURT DRESS

3.    The attire of solicitors exercising their right of audience in open court shall include gown, wing collar and bands.

4.    This Practice Direction consolidates and supersedes the Practice Directions now appearing at pages 23.2 and 23.4.

5.    The Practice Direction shall take effect on 1 February 1999.

Dated this 31st day of December 1998.