Litigation is the act or process of contesting a lawsuit or seeking redress through the courts. It can be an expensive and time-consuming procedure and is generally taken when other avenues of dispute resolution have not been successful or are not available. Other approaches to resolving disputes or contractor defaults should therefore be considered prior to litigation. Appropriate legal and other professional advice should be obtained prior to considering and commencing litigation. The Legal Services Directions 2005 issued by the Attorney-General outline certain requirements that apply to FMA Act agencies and CAC Act bodies when considering or conducting litigation.