Ad Hoc

Ad hoc describes something created, arranged, or done for a particular purpose or occasion, without broader or lasting application. In legal practice, ad hoc committees, tribunals, or appointments are established to address a single matter and dissolve upon its resolution. Ad hoc arbitration, as opposed to institutional arbitration, is conducted without the administration of a permanent arbitral institution. The term signals that the arrangement is temporary, purpose-specific, and not part of a standing structure. Courts may appoint ad hoc guardians, create ad hoc judicial panels, or establish ad hoc procedures when existing rules do not adequately address an unusual situation.

Lawyers and judges use ad hoc to describe temporary arrangements designed for a specific case or situation. It appears commonly in international law when states create ad hoc tribunals, and in corporate law when boards form ad hoc committees to investigate specific matters.