Lay representation
A lay representative is someone who is a not a solicitor or advocate who can represent a defendant in court about civil matters (such as debt payment). The defendant should still attend court if they have a lay representative.
Lay representatives are commonly Citizen Advice or local authority debt advisers. They cannot charge for their service and can do anything the defendant can do if they were defending themselves, such as speaking on their behalf.
Lay representatives must ask the court’s permission to act on a client’s behalf and submit a Form 1A to the court. Sheriffs can remove permission for a lay representative to act at any time during the process.1Sch 1 1.A.2(6) OCR Agencies have procedures in place to ensure an adviser meets all the standards required to be a lay representative. It is especially important to understand your boundaries when dealing with complex legal case work and to know when to refer cases to suitably qualified legal experts.