The importance of being represented.

Last week I was at the HCPC for two days and the NMC for 2 days. This week I've been at the NMC for one day. Whilst at the HCPC, where I successfully defended a social worker, I bumped into one of the NMC's legal assessors. He and I recognised each other from the NMC, and it was a pleasant surprise to see him in the HCPC jurisdiction. We chatted, and during our chat he reiterated what I think is the single most important thing for registrants in any regulatory disciplinary proceedings to have in mind - that registrants should be professionally represented. It was good to hear it from the horse's mouth, bearing in mind this legal assessor is of many years' seniority. He's also a very nice chap and congratulated me on my client's success! In this particular case, even though my client had admitted the facts and impairment prior to my involvement, I was still able to submit that her fitness to practise was not currently impaired, and because of the work we had done, that submission was successful. Do you know, I'm sure I saw a tear in the eye of the client's husband..