The Solicitors (Disciplinary Proceedings) Rules 2019

Procedural applications

22.—(1) Any procedural application must be—

(a) made using the prescribed form; and

(b) sent to the Tribunal and served on every other party, together with any relevant supporting documentation.

(2) The Tribunal, single solicitor member or clerk must issue written reasons for its decisions on procedural applications.

(3) Any party aggrieved by a decision of a clerk under paragraph 8(6) may request that the application be re-determined by a panel or single solicitor member by notifying the Tribunal of this request within 14 days of receipt of the written reasons for the decision.

(4) In this rule, a “procedural application” means an application for—

(a) a variation of directions;

(b) an adjournment of the hearing of an application (see rule 23);

(c) an amendment or withdrawal of an allegation (see rule 24);

(d) disclosure and discovery (see rule 26);

(e) leave to call or adduce expert evidence (see rule 30);

(f) a direction that special measures may be provided or used to assist vulnerable witnesses or respondents;

(g) a direction that a witness or respondent may give their evidence or otherwise participate in the proceedings by videolink or other electronic means;

(h) any other procedural application, including an application for a stay of proceedings for abuse of process, and general applications to exclude or adduce evidence.