A special master or master in chancery is an individual appointed by the court to assist with some part of a lawsuit, such as discovery—depositions, written questions, and production of documents—and to make recommendations to the judge on how to resolve related disputes. Courts have held that discovery questions that require extensive examination of highly technical and complex documents by a person having both a technical and a legal background may constitute an exceptional condition sufficient to justify the appointment of a master to supervise such discovery.

In Alaska, a special master, also known as a master in chancery, is an individual appointed by the court to assist with specific aspects of a lawsuit, particularly when the case involves complex and technical matters that require specialized expertise. Under Alaska Rule of Civil Procedure 53, the court may appoint a special master to perform duties consented to by the parties or prescribed by the court when the issues to be addressed are exceptional and require such expertise. This can include overseeing discovery processes, such as depositions, interrogatories, and the production of documents, especially when these tasks involve the examination of highly technical and complex documents. The appointment of a special master is justified when the situation presents exceptional conditions that demand the specialized knowledge of someone with both technical and legal backgrounds. The special master reports to the court with recommendations on how to resolve the disputes, and the judge retains the final decision-making authority.