> ### PRACTICE DIRECTION

> ### PART 42 - CHANGE OF SOLICITOR

> ### See also Civil Procedure Rules

> ### THIS PRACTICE DIRECTION SUPPLEMENTS PART 42 OF THE CIVIL PROCEDURE RULES

> ### SOLICITOR ACTING FOR A PARTY

> 1.1 | Rule 42.1 states that where the address for service of a party is the business address1 of his solicitor, the solicitor will be considered to be acting for that party until the provisions of Part 42 have been complied with.
> 1.2 | Subject to rule 42.2(6) (where the certificate of an assisted person within the meaning of the Civil Legal Aid (General) Regulations 1989 is revoked or discharged), where a party has changed his solicitor or intends to act in person, the former solicitor will be considered to be the party's solicitor unless or until; a notice of the change is filed with the court2, and served on every other party3, or the court makes an order under rule 42.3 and the order is served on every other party4. The notice should not be filed until every other party has been served.
> 1.3 | A solicitor appointed to represent a party only as an advocate at a hearing will not be considered to be acting for that party within the meaning of Part 42.

> ### NOTICE OF CHANGE OF SOLICITOR

> 2.1 | Rule 42.2(1) sets out the circumstances following which a notice of the change must be filed and served.
> 2.2 | A notice of the change giving the last known address of the former assisted person must also be filed and served on every party where, under rule 42.2(6): the certificate of an assisted person within the meaning of the Civil Legal Aid (General) Regulations 1989 is revoked or discharged, the solicitor who acted for the assisted person has ceased to act on determination of his retainer under regulation 83 of those Regulations, and the assisted person wishes either to act in person or appoint another solicitor to act on his behalf.
> 2.3 | In addition, where a party or solicitor changes his address for service, a notice of that change should be filed and served on every party.
> 2.4 | A party who, having conducted a claim by a solicitor, intends to act in person must give in his notice an address for service that is within the jurisdiction5.
> 2.5 | Practice form N434 should be used to give notice of any change. The notice should be filed in the court office in which the claim is proceeding.
> 2.6 | Where the claim is proceeding in the High Court the notice should be filed either in the appropriate District Registry or if the claim is proceeding in the Royal Courts of Justice, as follows; a claim proceeding in the Queen's Bench Division - in the Action Department of the Central Office, a claim proceeding in the Chancery Division - in Chancery Chambers, a claim proceeding in the Crown Office - in the Crown Office, a claim proceeding in the Admiralty and Commercial Registry - in the Admiralty and Commercial Registry, and a claim proceeding in the Technology and Construction Court - in the Registry of the Technology and Construction Court.
> 2.7 | Where the claim is the subject of an appeal to the Court of Appeal, the notice should also be filed in the Civil Appeals Office.

> ### APPLICATION FOR AN ORDER THAT A SOLICITOR HAS CEASED TO ACT

> 3.1 | A solicitor may apply under rule 42.3 for an order declaring that he has ceased to be the solicitor acting for a party.
> 3.2 | The application should be made in accordance with Part 236 and must be supported by evidence7. Unless the court directs otherwise the application notice must be served on the party8.
> 3.3 | An order made under rule 42.3 must be served on every party and takes effect when it is served. Where the order is not served by the court, the person serving must file a certificate of service in practice form N215.

> ### APPLICATION BY ANOTHER PARTY TO REMOVE A SOLICITOR

> 4.1 | Rule 42.4 sets out circumstances in which any other party may apply for an order declaring that a solicitor has ceased to be the solicitor acting for another party in the proceedings.
> 4.2 | The application should be made in accordance with Part 23 and must be supported by evidence. Unless the court directs otherwise the application notice must be served on the party to whose solicitor the application relates.
> 4.3 | An order made under rule 42.4 must be served on every other party to the proceedings. Where the order is not served by the court, the person serving must file a certificate of service in practice form N215.

> ### NEW ADDRESS FOR SERVICE WHERE ORDER MADE UNDER RULES 42.3 OR 42.4

> 5.1 | Where the court has made an order under rule 42.3 that a solicitor has ceased to act or under rule 42.4 declaring that a solicitor has ceased to be the solicitor for a party, the party for whom the solicitor was acting must give a new address for service to comply with rule 6.5(2). (Rule 6.5(2) provides that a party must give an address for service within the jurisdiction) (Until such time as a new address for service is given rule 6.5(6) will apply)

> ### Endnote:

> 1 | Rule 6.5 and the Practice Direction supplementing Part 6 contain information about the business address.
> 2 | Rule 42.2(2)(a)
> 3 | Rule 42.2(2)(b)
> 4 | Rule 42.2(5)

Return to the Practice Directions Index