The Official Solicitor becomes involved in civil litigation in a number of ways:

1. as Litigation Friend* for a child or an adult protected party** under Civil Procedure Rule (‘CPR’) 21;
2. as representative of a deceased estate under CPR19.8'
3. rarely, as an Advocate to the Court; and
4. by providing assistance to the court by a Harbin v Masterman investigation (1896 1 Ch 351)

*A ‘litigation friend’ is a person responsible, under Part 21 of the Civil Procedure Rules for the conduct and cost of legal proceedings instituted on behalf of, or against, a child or mentally disordered person’

**CPR 21.1 (2) defines a ‘protected party’ as a party, or an intended party, who lacks capacity to conduct the proceedings.

For further information please contact:

Andrea Dye
Tel: 020 7911 7087
Email