Neither a respondent nor his or her representative shall communicate with the hearing officer directly or indirectly in connection with any issue of fact or law related to a proceeding pending before the Commission, except upon notice and opportunity to all parties to participate. The hearing officer may, with the consent of the parties, confer separately with the parties and/or their lawyers in an effort to mediate or settle a pending matter.
This rule shall not preclude:
21 Miss. Code. R. 201-6.3