What Is a McKenzie Friend and Do You Need One?

You are about to walk into one of the most formal environments of your life.

A courtroom.

Without a solicitor.

That is terrifying. Most people freeze. Most people say too much or too little. Most people come out not entirely sure what just happened.

A McKenzie Friend changes that.

Here is exactly what a McKenzie Friend is, what they are legally allowed to do, and why having the right one beside you could be the single most important decision you make in your case.

What Is a McKenzie Friend?

A McKenzie Friend is a person who helps you in court when you are representing yourself. They are not a solicitor. They are not a barrister. But they are legally recognised.

The name comes from a 1970 case, McKenzie v McKenzie. The Court of Appeal confirmed that a litigant in person has the right to have a supporter present in court. That right still stands today.

A McKenzie Friend can sit beside you during a hearing. They can take notes. They can quietly guide you during proceedings. They can help you organise your documents before the hearing and help you understand what is happening as it unfolds.

What they cannot do, in most cases, is speak to the judge on your behalf. That requires something called a right of audience, which must be applied for separately and is not automatically granted.

Within those boundaries, a good McKenzie Friend is enormously valuable.

Is This Legally Recognised?

Yes.

In England and Wales, your right to a McKenzie Friend is confirmed by Practice Guidance issued by the Lord Chief Justice in July 2010. A judge can only refuse a McKenzie Friend in exceptional circumstances, and must give reasons for doing so.

In Northern Ireland, the equivalent position is set out in Practice Note 3/2012, revised in June 2024 by the Lord Chief Justice of Northern Ireland. The same basic principle applies. A litigant in person has the right to be accompanied and assisted by a McKenzie Friend.

This is not a grey area. It is established, recognised, and protected in both jurisdictions.

Who Actually Needs a McKenzie Friend?

If you are going through family court proceedings without a solicitor, you need support. The question is what kind.

You might be in this situation for several reasons.

You could not afford a solicitor from the start. Legal aid in England and Wales has been cut so severely that most people do not qualify. In Northern Ireland, legal aid remains more accessible, but there are still income limits and means tests that exclude many people.

You may have had a solicitor and run out of money. This happens more than anyone admits. Cases drag on. Costs mount. At some point the solicitor stops working and you are on your own, mid-case, with hearings coming up.

Or you chose to represent yourself because you wanted control. That is a legitimate choice. But court procedure is technical, and the other side almost certainly has legal representation.

In any of these situations, a McKenzie Friend gives you someone in your corner. Someone who knows how courts work. Someone who can help you prepare, stay focused, and make sense of what is happening around you.

What Makes Court Compass Different?

John is not a volunteer McKenzie Friend. He is not a well-meaning friend who has read a few court documents online.

He holds an LLM with distinction in Access to Justice from Ulster University. He has spent 30 years working as an access to justice lawyer and McKenzie Friend in family courts across England, Wales, and Northern Ireland. He has been granted leave to address the Court of Appeal in both England and Wales and in Northern Ireland. He was named a 2019 Department of Justice Northern Ireland Access to Justice Scholar.

He knows what judges look for. He knows what mistakes litigants in person make. He knows how to help you avoid them.

The Gap That Loses Cases

Here is the hard truth.

You can read everything available about family court procedure. You can memorise the forms, the timelines, the legal tests. And you can still walk into that courtroom and lose.

Not because you were wrong. Not because the evidence was not there. But because you answered the wrong question.

Judges in children cases do not decide on the basis of who is the better person. They apply the welfare checklist. In England and Wales, that is the checklist set out in Section 1 of the Children Act 1989. In Northern Ireland, it is the equivalent provisions in Article 3 of the Children (Northern Ireland) Order 1995.

Every piece of evidence you present, every argument you make, every document you hand to the judge needs to speak directly to that checklist.

Most unrepresented people do not know this. They talk about what their ex did wrong. They talk about fairness. They talk about what they deserve. And the judge is listening for something else entirely.

That gap, between what you say and what the judge needs to hear, is where cases are lost.

John's job is to close that gap.

What Sessions Cover

Sessions are available by Zoom, by phone, or in person in Northern Ireland. Court attendance is available across England, Wales, and Northern Ireland.

You do not need to have everything figured out before you book. You need to be in family court proceedings, or about to enter them, and you need clarity on what to do next.

John works with clients on:

• Preparing for hearings. Understanding what the judge will be looking for at each stage and making sure your evidence and your presentation speak to it directly.
• Reviewing documents. Position statements, witness statements, court bundles. Making sure what you file is clear, relevant, and persuasive.
• Understanding what has happened. If you have just come out of a hearing feeling confused or blindsided, John can help you work out what was decided and what it means for the next stage.
• Planning your next steps. Whether that is your first hearing or your final hearing, knowing what to do next is the most important thing.

Pricing starts at £297 for one hour. The five-hour package at £1,297 is the most popular choice. There is no VAT. There is a 30-day cancellation guarantee if it is not the right fit.

Common Questions

Can a McKenzie Friend speak in court?

In most cases, no. A McKenzie Friend can quietly guide you during the hearing but cannot address the judge directly. In some circumstances, a court can grant a right of audience, which allows them to speak. This must be applied for and is not guaranteed.

Can the judge refuse my McKenzie Friend?

Yes, but only in exceptional circumstances and only with reasons given. This is rare in practice.

Do I need to tell the court in advance?

You should inform the court as early as possible that you intend to use a McKenzie Friend. In Northern Ireland, Practice Note 3/2012 sets out the notification procedure. In England and Wales, notify the court and the other party before the hearing.

Is a McKenzie Friend cheaper than a solicitor?

Significantly. A solicitor in family proceedings typically costs between £200 and £400 per hour, often more in London and major cities. Cases regularly run to tens of thousands of pounds. John's rate starts at £297 per hour with no VAT added on top.

Can a McKenzie Friend help me prepare, not just attend court?

Yes. Preparation is often where the most important work happens. Understanding your documents, preparing your position statement, knowing what to expect at each stage. John works with clients throughout their case, not just on the day of the hearing.

Start Here If You Have Received a Letter

If you have received a letter from a solicitor or from the court and you cannot work out what it means, that is a problem. Because the deadline in that letter is real. The instruction in that letter is real. Not understanding it costs you time and position.

Take the Next Step

Information alone does not win court cases. Strategy does. Preparation does. Knowing what the judge is looking for and making sure your evidence speaks directly to it.

That is what John does.