24Legal representation

24 Legal representation (1) A court or the ACAT may, in relation to proceedings in the court or ACAT, on an application made to it by a party to the proceedings or on its own initiative, direct the public trustee and guardian to represent— (a) a party to those proceedings; or (b) a person or class of persons interested in those proceedings. (2) Where a direction is given under subsection (1)— (a) the public trustee and guardian may be represented in the proceedings in connection with which the direction is given by a legal practitioner; and

(b) the costs and expenses of the representation, as between solicitor and client, together with a reasonable fee for the services of the public trustee and guardian, must be paid to the public trustee and guardian out of any estate, funds or property the subject matter of the proceedings, or otherwise as the court or the ACAT may direct. (3) The public trustee and guardian may engage a lawyer to appear before a court or the ACAT in relation to the exercise of any of its functions under this Act.