Right Of Audience

The right of audience, in common law, is the right of a lawyer to conduct court proceedings on behalf of a client. In England, solicitors have rights of audience in the lower courts, unless they have obtained a certificate of advocacy to represent a client in the superior court; while barristers always have rights of audience in all courts. Solicitors may also have rights of audience in the House of Lords and the County, District, and Magistrates courts, depending on the jurisdiction. A person who appears in court without the representation of a lawyer (a litigant in person) has the right of audience, but a non-lawyer who assists someone else with a legal case in court does not. Some administrative tribunals do not have rules regarding rights of audience, so a party can choose to be represented by anyone they choose. In civil cases allocated to the small claims court, a person who accompanies the litigant has the right of audience as a Lay Representative, as long as the litigant is present.