Section 220-RICR-80-05-2.6 - Hearings In GeneralA. All Parties should be afforded an opportunity to respond and present evidence and argument on all issues involved.B. Agencies must appear at hearings by appearance of legal counsel. Individual Employees, once named as Parties by the Hearing Officer, may represent themselves or be represented by legal counsel at their own expense. Consistent with R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-27-2, "Practice of Law," any person accompanying a Party who is not a lawyer (certified member of the bar of the State of Rhode Island) cannot represent the Party in the hearing.C. Continuances and postponements may be granted by the Hearing Officer in his or her discretion.D. Disposition may be made of any Contested Case by stipulation, agreed settlement, consent order or default.E. Should the Hearing Officer determine that written memoranda are required, the Parties will be notified by the Hearing Officer of the need to file a written document which discusses the issues of the case. Memoranda of Law may always be offered in support of arguments offered by the Parties.F. The Administrator may, when he or she deems appropriate, retain independent legal counsel to prosecute any Contested Case.G. A record of each hearing shall be made. Any Party may request a transcript at its own expense. If a transcript is requested by any Party, a copy of the transcript shall be provided, at no cost, to the Hearing Officer.220 R.I. Code R. 220-RICR-80-05-2.6