Section 178.45  Right to Counsel

a)         Hearing procedures will be governed by Subpart A of 14 Ill. Adm. Code 150.

b)         Any party may appear and be heard through an attorney at law licensed to practice in the State of Illinois.

1)         Attorneys admitted to practice in states other than the State of Illinois may appear and be heard upon the attorney's verbal representation or written documentation as to the attorney's admittance, pursuant to an order pro hac vice entered by a judge of the circuit court of the county in which the hearing is conducted, as provided in Supreme Court Rule 707.

2)         A natural person may appear and be heard on his or her own behalf.

3)         A corporation, association, or partnership may appear and present evidence by any bona fide officer, employee, or representative.

c)         Only an attorney properly licensed shall represent anyone else in any hearing in any matter involving the exercise of legal skill or knowledge.  The standards of conduct shall be the same as before the Courts of the State of Illinois.

d)         A hearing officer may be disqualified from presiding over a hearing wherein the hearing officer has an ethical conflict of interest or has an economic interest in the outcome of the proceeding.

(Source:  Amended at 32 Ill. Reg. 12046, effective July 16, 2008)