A McKenzie Friend is someone who can come to court with you if you do not have a solicitor and/or barrister. They might be a friend, a family member, someone from a voluntary organisation or, in some cases, may charge for their services. You will need to get permission from the judge to allow your McKenzie Friend into court.
The main role of the McKenzie Friend is to provide you with moral support, take notes, help you with case papers or quietly give you advice on points of law or procedures, issues that you may want to raise in court or questions that you may want to ask witnesses.
A McKenzie Friend cannot do the following:
- Address the court or question any witnesses
- Act as your agent in relation to the proceedings or manage your case outside of court, for example, by signing court documents
Further guidance on McKenzie Friends can be found here.