Substitution of Attorney is the right of a client to change the person who is representing them before a court of law. During any stage, if a client disagrees or is dissatisfied with how their case is being managed, they have the right to substitute their attorney. This right is accompanied by a process which needs to be followed for the successful substitution of attorney. Usually, a form must be signed by both the departing attorney and the incoming attorney, and the same form must be filed before the court clerk, along with a notification of the substitution to the opposite party’s counsel.
An attorney may also request substitution under certain conditions. Some examples being a client’s illegal course of action, mistrust, lack of cooperation, or a client’s refusal to pay attorney’s fees, etc.
See also: substitution
[Last updated in November of 2021 by the Wex Definitions Team]