Any party may be represented by legal counsel or by a REALTOR® (or both) at any ethics hearing, including reviews, even where the hearing will occur in the party’s absence. SCCAOR has adopted the Ethics Advocate (EA) program, a sub-committee of the Professional Standards Committee of REALTORS® is specially trained to represent parties during the disciplinary process. The role of legal counsel or EA may include preparation for hearing, including the preparation of forms and assembly of evidence, representation at the hearing, including the making of opening and closing statements on behalf of the party represented at the hearing, examining and cross examining witnesses, and introducing affidavits, documents and other relevant evidence, and representation at any review hearings, but does not include testifying as a witness. In the event the parties do not give fifteen (15) days’ notice of their intention to have legal counsel or EA representation to the Association and all other parties, the hearing may be continued, and the party giving late notice may be assessed a continuance fee. An Association is not required to provide an EA for a party if the Association has not adopted the EA program. Where an ethics hearing takes place in a respondent’s absence, the respondent is still entitled to be represented by counsel at the hearing.