Regulation 18

A solicitor may seek the permission of the Chief Public Defender to discharge himself or herself from acting for an aided accused person, which permission must not be unreasonably refused.

The solicitor mentioned in paragraph (1) must provide to the Chief Public Defender a report of the reasons for seeking permission to discharge himself or herself.

To avoid doubt, paragraph (2) does not require the solicitor to provide any information that is subject to any privilege or any duty of confidentiality.

Subject to section 18(3) of the Act, no solicitor acting for an aided accused person may entrust the conduct of any part of a case to any other person.