Your new lawyer may ask for more time but from experience as a paralegal in the UK gathering all the right people together at the right time is notoriously difficult. A judge's decision would depend on how much information the new lawyer needs to look at, whether the case needs further attention and obviously if your new lawyer is eloquent enough to argue for this. I'd suggest speaking to another lawyer about the situation before simplay requesting one. If you are in a position of having no money to appoint your lawyer you have to consider this carefully. I have seen a lawyer turn up in court the morning of the case and still be tucking his shirt in and reading the very basics of the case for the first time. He entered into the court having not structured an argument and in my opinion was too inexperienced to do the case justice. He was probably put on the case because at that late stage there was no other choice. Good lawyers aren't sitting around waiting for clients. If you are unhappy with your current laywer my advice would be to sit and chat with him/her and clear the air, tell them why you feel insecure and ask them if there is any way they can reassure you on the points you raise.

G'day Anonymous, Thank you for your question. The case may be delayed if the judge agrees to it. However, you might also find that the lawyer that you get is not as good as the lawyer that you had as good lawyers tend to be fairly busy and not available to work at short notice. If it was me, I would try and sort out the differences that I had with my existing lawyer. They should already know your case and what arguments he or she will be putting forward in your defence. Regards