Rule 26 Representation of parties at oral hearingI1
Scotland
Subject to this rule, any person authorised by a party for that purpose may represent a party at an oral hearing.
A party wishing to be represented at an oral hearing must give written notice of the name, address and occupation of the person they intend to authorise for that purpose to the oral hearing panel and to the other party.
The written notice under paragraph (2) must be provided before the expiry of the period during which the person concerned may submit written representations under rule 10.
The panel may refuse to permit a person to represent a party if it considers there are good and sufficient reasons for doing so.
Where the person concerned does not authorise a representative under paragraph (1)—
the panel may, if the person concerned has agreed, appoint a representative to act on the person’s behalf for the purposes of the oral hearing, or
if the panel considers that the person concerned lacks capacity to agree to an appointment under sub-paragraph (a) the panel may make such arrangements as the panel considers appropriate to secure that representation.
Where the panel is considering making arrangements under paragraph (5)(b), it may seek information, recommendations or reports from such persons as appear to it to be suitably qualified or experienced in the field of mental capacity and mental welfare to assist with the panel’s appointment of a representative.