Family Law

Paid McKenzie Friends in family law cases vary from ‘business opportunists’ through ‘good Samaritans’ to ‘family justice crusaders’ and ‘rogues’.

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‘It is particularly interesting that the courtroom – where the very concept of McKenzie Friends as “quiet supporters” for a litigant was born – is not primarily where those who pay them are receiving their services today. In that sense, what we see in court represents the tip of the iceberg. The risks of McKenzie Friends being able to seek payment for representing their clients in court, despite being unqualified and offering no disciplinary process and no requirement to have insurance, are considerable and so vulnerable clients have little protection.

The research suggests that the number of paid McKenzie Friends seeking judges’ permission to represent clients in court at present is smaller than many feared, and one view is that it can and should be nipped in the bud without impacting on access to justice.’