https://www.slab.org.uk/guidance/abwor-accounts-and-the-employment-of-counsel-requirement-of-prior-approval-and-charges-for-unauthorised-advocacy/
You may apply for an increase in authorised expenditure to cover the cost of counsel, whether for:
We will look at such requests on their individual merits. You must demonstrate that the case presents such difficulty, complexity, novelty or importance that it justifies the involvement of counsel.
Sanctioned Counsel
If we do authorise the involvement of counsel, you may delegate the attendance at a tribunal to an unqualified member of staff, providing that counsel is in attendance conducting the hearing.
You are only allowed to entrust a case to another solicitor. If you are unable to conduct a hearing personally, you may only entrust the conduct of the case to another solicitor. If the case is novel, difficult or complex enough as to justify the involvement of counsel, you should seek our approval and, if necessary, an increase in authorised expenditure for that.
Unsanctioned Counsel
We will question any account entry which indicates that you have instructed counsel without our authority.
Where unsanctioned counsel has been employed we will not pay for any of the costs of counsel, including: