*/
The use of McKenzie Friends is greater than had been thought, according to research showing that the bulk of their work is done outside court
The Study of fee-charging McKenzie Friends and their work in private family law cases, commissioned by the Bar Council and carried out by academics at the Universities of Cardiff and Bristol, showed that very few paid McKenzie Friends seek to represent litigants in court, preferring to offer advice and support before a case goes to court.
Chair of the Bar, Andrew Langdon QC, said instances of them representing clients in court was ‘smaller than many feared’ and should be ‘nipped in the bud’.
But he said their court work ‘represents the tip of the iceberg’ and highlighted the broader issue of people denied legal aid, who have no choice but to turn to McKenzie Friends.
The report found evidence of ‘difficulties’ presented by McKenzie Friends exercising rights of audience and said ‘concerning’ fee issues should be tackled, but it said clients received ‘a great deal of valuable support’ at a ‘relatively low cost’.
Recently Lady Justice Hallett said the term ‘McKenzie Friend’ was inappropriate in the Court of Appeal Criminal Division.
Giving judgment in R v Conaghan and Others [2017] EWCA Crim 597, she said the increase in applicants represented by ‘unqualified third parties’ has led to ‘totally unmeritorious applications’, that have ‘raised’ applicants’ hopes and taken up court time.
The use of McKenzie Friends is greater than had been thought, according to research showing that the bulk of their work is done outside court
The Study of fee-charging McKenzie Friends and their work in private family law cases, commissioned by the Bar Council and carried out by academics at the Universities of Cardiff and Bristol, showed that very few paid McKenzie Friends seek to represent litigants in court, preferring to offer advice and support before a case goes to court.
Chair of the Bar, Andrew Langdon QC, said instances of them representing clients in court was ‘smaller than many feared’ and should be ‘nipped in the bud’.
But he said their court work ‘represents the tip of the iceberg’ and highlighted the broader issue of people denied legal aid, who have no choice but to turn to McKenzie Friends.
The report found evidence of ‘difficulties’ presented by McKenzie Friends exercising rights of audience and said ‘concerning’ fee issues should be tackled, but it said clients received ‘a great deal of valuable support’ at a ‘relatively low cost’.
Recently Lady Justice Hallett said the term ‘McKenzie Friend’ was inappropriate in the Court of Appeal Criminal Division.
Giving judgment in R v Conaghan and Others [2017] EWCA Crim 597, she said the increase in applicants represented by ‘unqualified third parties’ has led to ‘totally unmeritorious applications’, that have ‘raised’ applicants’ hopes and taken up court time.
Chair of the Bar reflects on 2025
Q&A with criminal barrister Nick Murphy, who moved to New Park Court Chambers on the North Eastern Circuit in search of a better work-life balance
Revolt Cycling in Holborn, London’s first sustainable fitness studio, invites barristers to join the revolution – turning pedal power into clean energy
Rachel Davenport, Co-founder and Director at AlphaBiolabs, reflects on how the company’s Giving Back ethos continues to make a difference to communities across the UK
By Marie Law, Director of Toxicology at AlphaBiolabs
AlphaBiolabs has made a £500 donation to Sean’s Place, a men’s mental health charity based in Sefton, as part of its ongoing Giving Back initiative
Little has changed since Burns v Burns . Cohabiting couples deserve better than to be left on the blasted heath with the existing witch’s brew for another four decades, argues Christopher Stirling
Six months of court observation at the Old Bailey: APPEAL’s Dr Nisha Waller and Tehreem Sultan report their findings on prosecution practices under joint enterprise
Despite its prevalence, autism spectrum disorder remains poorly understood in the criminal justice system. Does Alex Henry’s joint enterprise conviction expose the need to audit prisons? asks Dr Felicity Gerry KC
With automation now deeply embedded in the Department for Work Pensions, Alexander McColl and Alexa Thompson review what we know, what we don’t and avenues for legal challenge
Why were some Caribbean nations given such dramatically different constitutional frameworks when they gained independence from the UK? Dr Leonardo Raznovich examines the controversial savings clause
