Abstract
The article is devoted to the study of the current state of the application of special knowledge in the form of participation of a specialist in the proof process, the peculiarities of legal regulation of the organizational and methodological foundations of his activities. The authors point to the process of “convergence” of two forms of application of special knowledge (expert and specialist) on legal status and functions, which creates problematic situations in the practice of their application. The article presents a look at the difference between the two forms of application of special knowledge, optimization of forensic expertise, as well as, in accordance with the requests of legal practice, improvement of the legal and organizational foundations of the activities of a specialist and an expert.