Costs specialists will team up with lawyers to obtain pro bono costs orders as part of the UK’s first pro bono litigation support service.

The Pro Bono Expert Support Service was set up last year to partner experts in fields such as forensic accountancy, investigations and case presentation with lawyers to ensure the full spectrum of modern litigation services are available to people requiring them to secure justice.

The service, offered by the National Pro Bono Centre and Pro Bono Connect, is now being expanded to bring in specialist costs lawyers to help obtain pro bono costs orders.

The Legal Services Act provides for pro bono costs orders, which are broadly equivalent to normal costs orders and are available when the winning party is represented wholly or partly pro bono. The losing party is ordered to make a payment in an amount equivalent to legal costs to the Access to Justice Foundation. This money is used to support legal advice charities to provide pro bono services.

Under the expanded scheme, lawyers working on a pro bono case can request assistance from costs specialists to help draft an application.

Costs specialists wishing to join the scheme should email pbexpertsupport@nationalprobonocentre.org.uk.