Rule 25 Rules of Professional Conduct for Legal Practitioners

Rule 25 of the Rules of Professional Conduct for Legal Practitioners (RPC) 2023 is about Investigation of facts and Production of witnesses, etc. It is under Part II (Relation with Clients) of Chapter 1 (Conduct) of the Rules. It provides as follows:

(1) Subject to the provisions of these Rules on communications with the other party, it shall be lawful for a lawyer to interview any witness or prospective witness for the opposing side in any action without the consent of
the opposing counsel or party, but he shall not take any action calculated to secrete a witness.

(2) A lawyer shall not participate in a bargain with a witness, either by contingent fee or otherwise as a condition for giving evidence, but this does not preclude payment of reasonable expenses incurred for the purpose of giving the evidence.

(3) A lawyer may advertise for witnesses to testify to a particular event or transaction but not for witnesses to testify to a particular version of the event or transaction.

(4) A lawyer shall not—
(a) be unfair, abusive or inconsiderate to adverse witnesses or opposing litigants or ask any question only to insult or degrade the witness ; and
(b) allow the unfair suggestions or demands of his clients to influence his action.