Short answer. Yes, but only if fully authorized in writing. Section 4 of Rule 18 lets a representative appear on your behalf, provided they are fully authorized in writing to enter into an amicable settlement, submit to alternative dispute resolution, and enter into stipulations or admissions of facts and documents.
What the law says
It shall be the duty of the parties and their counsel to appear at the pre-trial, court-annexed mediation, and judicial dispute resolution, if necessary.
Rule 18, Section 4 — Appearance of [p]arties. Read the full provision →
What the law says
A representative may appear on behalf of a party, but must be fully authorized in writing to enter into an amicable settlement, to submit to alternative modes of dispute resolution, and to enter into stipulations or admissions of facts and documents.
Rule 18, Section 4 — Appearance of [p]arties. Read the full provision →
The default duty to appear personally
Section 4 starts by placing the duty to appear on the parties themselves, not only their lawyers. It shall be the duty of the parties and their counsel to appear at the pre-trial, court-annexed mediation, and judicial dispute resolution, if necessary. Personal appearance is the baseline the rule is built around, which is why sending someone else in your place requires meeting a specific condition.
The representative option, and what it requires
Section 4 makes room for a representative to stand in for you, but ties that option to a specific requirement: A representative may appear on behalf of a party, but must be fully authorized in writing to enter into an amicable settlement, to submit to alternative modes of dispute resolution, and to enter into stipulations or admissions of facts and documents. A representative without that written authority does not satisfy what the rule requires.
Why the written authority has to cover those specific powers
Pre-trial is where settlements, mediation, and factual stipulations actually get worked out, so a representative who cannot bind you on those points would leave the proceeding unable to accomplish its purpose. That is why Section 4 does not accept a general or vague authorization — it requires the writing to specifically cover settlement, alternative dispute resolution, and stipulations or admissions of facts and documents, so a general power of attorney that does not mention these is unlikely to be enough.
What happens without that authorization
Section 4 separately allows non-appearance to be excused only for acts of God, force majeure, or duly substantiated physical inability — grounds distinct from simply sending an unauthorized representative. If your representative shows up without the required written authority, or you are absent without one of those excusing circumstances, you have not satisfied what this section demands of your appearance, which can carry consequences for how the pre-trial proceeds.