The rise and fall of the Official Solicitor's case load

The Official Solicitor dealt with more cases involving children and individuals in medico-legal disputes last year, but saw a slight downturn in overall caseload, according to its first annual report, published this week.

The caseload fell by 2.4% in 1999-2000 from the year before, but there was a 3.6% increase in cases where the Official Solicitor acted as guardian ad litem for children and in medico-legal cases for children and adults.The office accepted 2,179 cases where it represented the estates of deceased individuals, 822 cases involving adults and 390 cases representing children.The office spent almost 100,000 on counsel's fees.

Most other legal work is done in-house.

It recently asked Katherine Gieve of London firm Bindman & Partners to act as solicitor and guardian ad litem to Jodie, the surviving conjoined twin who has been central to a legal battle.Sue Allen