Which statement about substitution within the same firm is accurate?

• A. An order of substitution is required.
• B. A notice of substitution or association is sufficient.
• C. The client must consent in writing.
• D. A formal withdrawal is necessary.

Answer: (B)

Substitution within the same firm is treated as an internal change in who will handle the case, not a change to a different law firm. Because the firm remains the same, there’s no need for a formal substitution order, a written client consent, or a withdrawal of the original attorney. The proper step is a notice of substitution or association, which updates the record and informs the court and client that another attorney from the same firm will take over the representation. This keeps the process smooth and preserves continuity, since the client has already engaged the firm as their counsel; moving to a different attorney within that firm doesn’t create a new attorney-client relationship. If a client has conflicts or preferences, those would be addressed separately, but intra-firm substitution itself doesn’t require additional formalities beyond notice.