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Litigation

Litigation Division

The Attorney General and the Litigation Unit represent the State, its agencies, officials and employees in civil matters filed in state and federal courts. The Litigation Unit has the responsibility of defending the state against suits and claims.

It also defends state officials and employees when they are sued in civil rights cases for actions taken in the course and scope of their employment. While they are performing their official duties, it is not uncommon for lawsuits to be filed against public servants in their individual capacity. This Unit has the capacity and expertise to defend these servants without cost to the official or agency.

The Litigation Unit has the responsibility to handle and direct the major class action litigation filed against institutions and agencies. The Unit represents state judicial officers, District Attorneys, Legislators, and the executive branch of state government when sued in both their official and individual capacities.

The Litigation Section is also responsible for tracking the hiring of private attorneys by other state agencies and reporting the costs to state agencies for services provided by private attorneys. The forms used in this process can be found below.

Agency Contracting Legal Representation

The following are forms for both agency and attorney when a state agency is contracting legal representation.

Notice of proposed contract for employment of private attorney(s) under Title 74 I.S. SUPP. 1998, SECTION 20i


Contracting for Legal Representation by Private Attorneys. 74 O.S. § 20i

House Bill 1917, codified at 74 O.S. § 20i, became effective July 1, 1995. The law sought to track the amount of funds expended for legal services by private attorneys.

State agencies or officials with the authority to hire or retain a private attorney must before entering into a contract with such an attorney, comply with a number of requirements, which are as follows:

  1. A private attorney must be selected from a list of attorneys maintained by the Attorney General. To be placed on the list, an attorney must file a completed AG Form 20i-1 with the Attorney General.
  2. Private attorneys on the list must perform services in accordance with the schedule of fees filed with the Attorney General as a condition to being on the list. Deviation from the fee schedule is only upon approval of the Attorney General.
  3. Before entering into any contract with a private attorney for legal services, a copy of the proposed contract must be furnished to the Attorney General by attaching it to the applicable AG Form and providing certain information required under this statute.

    a. If the total amount of the contract will be under $20,000 agencies fill out AG Form 20i-2 “Notice of Proposed Contract for Employment of Private Attorney(s)” and forward, along with a copy of the proposed contract, to the Attorney General for acceptance. If the contract is amended or the cost goes above $20,000, additional permission must be obtained.

    b. Contracts for legal services above $20,000, agencies fill out AG Form 20i-3 “Application for Approval of Proposed Contract for Employment of Private Attorney(s)” and forward, along with a copy of the proposed contract, to the Attorney General for approval.

Approved Attorney Search

 Find an approved attorney

Contract Information

Find contract information by: 

Title 74 O.S. Section 20i Reports