18. Criminal defence aid not to discontinue without permission

An aided accused person must not discharge a solicitor assigned to act for the aided accused person under this Act without the permission of the Chief Public Defender.

Subject to subsection (3), a solicitor assigned to act for an aided accused person must not discontinue the provision of criminal defence aid without the permission of the Chief Public Defender.

Subsection (2) does not apply to an assigned solicitor who instructs another solicitor, who is also appointed to the appropriate panel of solicitors established under section 4, to assist the assigned solicitor.