Shaking-Up The Inheritance Laws

An interesting article in The Telegraph regarding potential changes to inheritance laws.

The Government's law advisers want to make it law for unmarried couples, who have lived together for 5 years, to automatically inherit their partner's entire estate if they die intestate (without a will). The law currently only allows for an automatic inheritance for married couples without a will.

Where do you stand on it?

There will be those that argue that it diminishes the importance of families and marriage. Others will see it as a modern approach to a modern society.

Telegraph 'Inheritance' Article

Alternative Family Dispute Resolution

An interesting article on 'family law dispute resolution' as opposed to an all out fight in the full glare of the courts. It makes some very good points about parties having 'unrealistic expectations of their legal entitlement' on divorce, how it is difficult to predict the outcome of a case in family law, and how the author, himself, is an advocate for a rethink on the planned legal aid cull.

http://www.familylawweek.co.uk/site.aspx?i=ed90145

If we can help you in any family law matters then please contact us.

http://www.yourmckenziefriend.co.uk

Is this the end for Contact & Residence Orders?

If the plans put forward under the recent 'Family Justice Review' come to fruition, then we may see the end of Contact Orders and Residence Orders, for children, as we know them.

The plans are to replace these two orders with a Child Arrangement Order, that will set out an agreement between the parents, post separation.

In fact, courts are already beginning to prefer a 'Parental Agreement', rather than having to make an order themselves, and this approach is likely to continue, even when, and if, the new order is introduced. It does, of course, make sense, that parents are more likely to stick to orders that have been agreed between themselves, rather than being told that 'this is what will happen' by the courts.

This new order is likely to reflect the importance of children's wishes and promote what is in their best interests. The new law is likely to state that there should be no right to substantially shared or equal time for both parents to spend with their children.

Watch this space for more details, as and when we find out more.

http://www.yourmckenziefriend.co.uk

If you would like to read the full report, you can do so here...

http://www.justice.gov.uk/about/moj/independent-reviews/family-justice-review/

McKenzie Friend: A Day In The Life

‘It must be a very exciting job being a McKenzie Friend, isn’t it?’

If I had a dollar, well a pound, seeing that this is the UK, for every time that I have heard that question, well, I would be quite a few pounds richer by now. And, once I pick myself up off of the floor through laughing, my usual response is, ‘yes, you would think so, wouldn’t you?’ Of course, my laughter is not intended as an insult to the enquirer. It’s just that, I would have thought the same myself before working as a McKenzie Friend, it must be exciting. Please don’t get me wrong, I wouldn’t change the experiences I have had for anything. And, it can be an extremely interesting and eye-opening job, but ‘very exciting’, I don’t think I would class it as that. And, of course, my clients don’t necessarily want it to be ‘very exciting’ for them either. This is, after all, real people’s lives that are being played out in the full glare of the Courts for many to see. Of course, if your idea of ‘very exciting’ is sitting in court buildings for hours at a time, just waiting for something remotely interesting to happen, then this would be a positively heart-racing proposition for you. So, this short article is just a very small and general insight into the day in the life of a McKenzie Friend.

So, what is it really like to be a McKenzie Friend?

People often have a ‘rose tinted’ view of what it is like to be a McKenzie Friend, or many other jobs for that matter. I could just agree with them and say, yes, it’s exactly how they imagine it will be, they will love it, and they will have no problems at all. But, I think to do so, would be doing them a great injustice, and in not, at least, balancing the good things about the job with explaining some of the pitfalls that they will invariably come across, would be very wrong of me.

I thought I’d split my McKenzie Friend experiences into good, bad and ugly. So, for the purposes of this short article, let’s call them, ‘The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly’ (I amaze myself sometimes).

The Good:

The wonderful people that I meet, from all walks of life, who were just going about their daily lives until, wham, court papers get forcefully thrust into their hands or shoved through the letterbox. All these people ever wanted (well, the majority of them anyway, there are always a few who like nothing better than to ‘have their day in court’) was peace in their lives. And, after receiving the papers, all they want is to see justice done. One of the most challenging jobs of a McKenzie Friend, and even before you get into Court, is to work out what has gone on in their lives for them to arrive at the predicament that they are now in. And, most will want to tell you everything about their lives. It is a responsible position, and many will treat you in the same vein as if you were an experienced solicitor or counsellor. This is why I always recommend to budding McKenzie Friends that, although you don’t have to be legally qualified, it certainly does help to at least have an interest in the area of law that you intend to cover, along with a bit of a talent for counselling.

Once you have established the facts, then you are better placed to suggest ways to resolve the issues. But, never, and I’ll say that again, NEVER (sorry about the shouting), tell them that they will get exactly what they ask for at Court. You cannot guarantee that, and it is the one sure way that your words will come back to bite you at a later date. All you can ever do is your best. Your main job is, in fact, to offer moral support and guidance to them. I think a big part of that is to be positive, but also to be honest about the constraints of the legal system, rather than give an idealistic view of how the legal system should work, that you should be aware is unlikely to materialise anyway. Of course, it is all about balance. You also don’t want to laugh and tell them that the last person who went to see the same judge was ridiculed and slapped across the wrists for even suggesting that he has contact with his son. I think you know what I’m saying, be professional but be realistic.

A question that I am always asked is about the type of Court forms to be used. The legal system is a labyrinth of procedures and rules and it can be a very daunting prospect for those unfamiliar with it. If you know just a few of the forms to use, or at least where they may be found, then you may just appear as someone that may be able to help them.

Court preparation is probably the most time consuming part of a McKenzie Friend’s day (other than sitting around in Court of course). And, in that, I include such things as finding a logical argument as to why your client has a much stronger story than his/her opponent, identifying evidence to back the story up, and deciding how best to get across to the Court, ‘how ludicrous it would be for anyone to suggest or believe that the argument was anything but convincing’. You need to remember that our Courts are based on ‘testing (trying to prove) the evidence put before them’. It has very little to do with much else (ok, there is a little more to it than that, but it gives you the general idea). How many times have you seen or heard about a clever solicitor or barrister who has managed to convince a judge or jury that a person is not guilty of the charge against them? They do it by highlighting some evidence and suppressing other evidence.

So, you have met your client, you have helped with filling in the Court forms, and you have prepared the case between you. What next?

Going to Court is a crucial part of being a McKenzie Friend, and in general it is a good part of the role. I won’t go into all the ins and outs of what you are allowed to do and what you are not allowed to do as a McKenzie Friend, as I have covered these in previous blogs and through the website http://www.yourmckenziefriend.co.uk. But, you do need to know that you should be allowed into Court with your client (although the Judge does have discretion, but would need to come up with a fairly good reason to prevent it), that you are not allowed to speak on behalf of your client (unless the Judge allows you to do so), that you can offer quiet advice (and for clarity, that doesn’t include jumping up and shouting ‘OBJECTION’ or ‘TELL HIM YOUR RIGHTS UNDER ARTICLE 6’ (all to do with having the right to a fair trial) at every opportunity, or by shouting out anything else that may cross your mind at the time. Oh, and that would probably be a good enough reason for the judge to evict you from the Court room as well.), and you may take notes. Take a good book (or two) if you are going to Court (you could be there for some time), but, of course, this is not really about you, it is about your client. And, he/she may need a fair amount of moral support and guidance on the day (or possibly not). You have to remember that you are not a solicitor (don’t worry if you forget, you will soon remember that fact by the end of the day once you come across some solicitors or barristers that barely, if at all, recognise your existence, and make it quite clear too - more of that in the ‘ugly’ section). Much depends on how confident your client is in dealing with the various ‘Court people’. You may have to get heavily involved, or you may just be required to help in the background. See what your client wants you to do and always bear in mind that it is their case, as a litigant in person, and you do not have an automatic right to become involved. In fact, you are not allowed to conduct their whole case for them anyway. Once you have finished at Court, then you may have a jubilant or defeated client on your hands, and you will need to handle them in the best possible way (not forgetting that a defeated client may be looking to let off some steam immediately, and guess who is directly in the firing line?). I prefer to see Court as a necessary evil rather than anything to become too exuberant about, and certainly in family Courts, you are sometimes left wondering whether there was any real winner at all! It’s then just back to the office to type up your notes and carry out any other requests made by the Court or your client.

The Bad:

What do you mean, wasn’t that the bad part that I have just read? No, but there isn’t really anything too bad, and much is based upon your perspective of the role (as I have already said). I particularly enjoy meeting people and feeling like that I am helping them to achieve something. I find the sitting around in Court a little less enthralling, although a necessary part of the role (‘you pays your money and you takes your choice’, is a phrase that springs to mind). Others will not agree with me and perhaps have a different perspective. Others have said to me that they like the sound of the role but wouldn’t want to stand up in Court and speak on behalf of their client. It doesn’t happen often, but you may be in a position where a client does not have the ability to articulate himself/herself very well, and in that situation, you may need to do just that, speak for them in Court. How do you feel about ‘representing’ your client in court, rather than just sitting next to them taking notes and giving them some quiet advice? That may appeal to you, it may not, but, it is quite an experience to face up to your clients’ opponent, who happens to have the ‘best lawyer in the world representing him’ (or, so it will seem to you at the time), whilst you have to get your side of the story across. You can see how that would either be a good or bad experience based on your perspective.

The Ugly:

Perhaps ‘ugly’ is too strong a word for it. However, I feel that I do have a duty to tell you about the pitfalls as well as the pleasures. You will come across solicitors and barristers that are perhaps, how can I put it, a little less enthusiastic about your role than you are. In fact, you may have to handle a little rejection from them. Some may not even acknowledge your help (or interference as they may see it). I have to be fair and say that a majority do see that all you are trying to do is move the case forward as quickly as possible and to reach an agreement. But, some, and I suppose rightly so, do see it that you have had no formal training, no legal qualifications, and ‘why should they deal with you? I am training to be a lawyer, so I am careful about not upsetting them too much.

So, there you have it, a day in the life of a McKenzie Friend. So, ok, you may not get to do all of the above every day, and you may find that you are at Court all of one day, and speaking to clients and finding legal arguments the next. It is a varied role, and it can be rewarding, if you put the effort into it, treat it with professionalism and above all enjoy it.

If you would like any further advice about becoming a McKenzie Friend then there are many advice centres and charities that can point you in the right direction. Some offer training courses to become a McKenzie Friend, and you can at least then do some voluntary work for them and find out if you enjoy it at the same time.

You may also contact me and I’ll try to help wherever I can.

http://www.yourmckenziefriend.co.uk

My Recent Legal Q & A Session: Facebook

I have been doing a free question and answer session on Facebook recently. To ensure that as many people get to see the questions and answers as possible, I thought I’d post them on my blog as well, so those that haven’t got access to facebook can see them too (yes, there are some).

If we can help you with any of your legal matters, please check out our website, http://www.yourmckenziefriend.co.uk

1) ‘I received a letter from a solicitor offering me £1500 to settle my case without going to court. The letter said ‘without prejudice’. What does this mean?

When someone puts ‘without prejudice’ on a letter involving money, it usually means that you can take it as them saying, ‘right, we are ready to do a deal with you.’ You can choose to accept the offer and that will be it. If you refuse the offer, and the matter goes to court, it does not necessarily mean that the other side will offer this same figure to you again, and you cannot generally use the letter as evidence in court to show that there was on offer on the table in the first place (although with most things legal, there are exceptions when a Judge may see a ‘without prejudice’ letter). You may of course end up with more in court, or less. It is the risk that you take.

2) ‘I have been threatened, pushed around and humiliated by my ‘soon to be’ ex husband for the past couple of years, and often in front of the children. I want him out of the property, but he refuses, and says that he has a right to stay as the property and mortgage is in both of our names. What can I do, as I just can’t put up with this any longer?’

My first suggestions would be to report any incidents to the police and to see a solicitor as soon as possible (you should be entitled to legal aid for this type of case, although we can help you too if required). If you are suffering from domestic abuse or violence then you need to protect yourself and the children as soon as possible. You need to keep records of all instances (even when you don’t call the police), and if there are any injuries (physical or emotional) you should also see your local GP. All this is important to back up my second suggestion of applying for a Non-Molestation Order and an Occupation Order (types of Injunction). The Non-Molestation Order’s aim is to protect you from the abuse and violence. The Occupation Order’s aim is to get your husband removed from the property. You should be able to obtain an Interim Order from the Courts ex-parte (i.e. without notice to your husband) to cover you in the short-term. You will need to go back to Court to get the Orders longer-term, but you really do need to act now. If your husband breaks the Orders then he can be punished.

3) ‘My lawyer has told me that I should carry on fighting and claim compensation for damages that I received as a result of an incident involving my ex partner. But, when he was charged and appeared in court, he was found not guilty of the charge. That does not seem right to me. Please advise whether I should carry on?’

Without knowing the full details of the case, I can only go on what I assume your lawyer is saying. Your ex partner was found not guilty of the charge against him in a criminal court. It can get a little complicated to understand, but, to have found your ex partner guilty in a criminal court, the Judge/Jury/Magistrate would have had to be convinced ‘beyond reasonable doubt’ that he had committed the crime. That can be quite a hard thing to prove. When you claim compensation for damages, this would be in a civil court. In a civil court, you only need to prove that, it is more likely than not, he was responsible for the incident that resulted in you becoming injured (or, in legal speak, ‘on the balance of probabilities’). That is a lot easier thing to demonstrate to a Judge. So, someone can be cleared of a crime in a criminal court, but still be found responsible and have to pay compensation in a civil court. I hope that makes it a little clearer.

4) ‘My boss at work said that I could not take my holiday at the beginning of December as that is the company’s busiest time. That is when I want to take my holiday. What rights do I have?’

I am assuming that you are employed, not self-employed, and working full-time. You are entitled to 5.6 weeks of paid holiday per year (based on you working a 5-day a week). That equates to 28 days (and for information, companies may count bank and public holidays as part of this entitlement). When you take these holidays is at the discretion of your employer. So, they are quite within their rights to ask you to work at their busiest time of year, ‘December’.

5) ‘I am involved in a messy legal battle with my ex partner in a divorce. My lawyer just can’t seem to tell me what the outcome is likely to be. She must know… Should I find another lawyer?’

The outcomes in family law cases are quite difficult to predict. This is mainly because there is often more than one right answer. Your lawyer seems as if she is doing all the right things for you. You do of course have the right to change lawyers if you feel that you are getting a bad service. But, although a lawyer may be able to get a feel for the way your case is going, nothing is certain or can be absolutely guaranteed until the Judge has made the decision.

6) ’I’ve just been to court on my own and I am totally confused. The Judge asked the person from CAFCASS for a Section 7 Report. What is one of these and should I be worried?’

CAFCASS generally become involved in cases involving children, and may either stay involved with the case as it progresses or drop out. A Judge may ask for a Section 7 Report when he or she needs guidance about making a decision that is in the best interests of the child. There are a few different Section 7 Reports, and they may be referred to as ‘wishes and feelings’, ‘single issue’, ‘full report’ or ‘addendum report’. It is general practice for a Judge to request one of these Section 7 reports and nothing out of the ordinary that should concern you.

7) 'I've been told by a friend that I will have to pay all my ex partners legal fees if I lose my case. I can't afford that. Is that right?'

No, not generally (although there are exceptions, but it is quite rare). Family law cases are very different to normal civil cases (where the loser may be expected to pay the winners and their own costs). Family law cases never really have a winner and a loser as such (although you may not feel that is entirely true at the time). You would be expected to pay your own costs, and your ex partner would pay their costs. It is possible to negotiate costs between the both of you and that may form part of a financial settlement in divorce. The other way is when the courts feel that you have conducted your case unreasonably (e.g. deliberately wasted legal costs). They may then order you to pay some, or all of your ex partners costs, as well as your own, but as I've said, it is quite rare, and almost never happens in children's cases.

8) A question that seems to have cropped up a few times relates to maintenance and contact issues involving children... 'My partner is refusing to pay maintenance. Can I stop contact until I get the money?'

The short answer is no, you cannot stop contact. Contact and maintenance are two completely separate issues. The presumption is that a child should be able to see both of his/her parents. It is not the child's fault that you are not getting the maintenance paid, and you could therefore be punishing the child for something that he/she has no control over. Contact is dealt with through the courts. Maintenance (unless your ex partner is earning above £2000 per week) is handled by the Child Support Agency. The courts may take quite a dim view of you preventing contact over a non payment of maintenance (if your ex partner were to take things further). I would suggest that you get in touch with the Child Support Agency so that they may investigate the matter. If they feel the ex partner is just refusing to pay, rather than not being able to pay, then they can take their own action to enforce payment.

If we can help you with any of your legal matters, please check out our website, http://www.yourmckenziefriend.co.uk

It’s Mine, All Mine... Oh No It’s Not! (How Not To Divorce)

‘I’m having the sofa, the TV and the lamp!’

‘No, you’re not. I’m having them!’

‘No, they are mine!’

‘No, they’re not, I paid for them!’

‘Ok, we’ll go to court, or, I’ll cut them all in half then!’

Does this sound vaguely familiar to you?

Well, perhaps if you have been through, or are going through, the trauma of a divorce, it may be closer to the truth than you would care to admit. Emotions may be running high, there may be a lot of frustration, and then you need to resolve the issues of, ‘who gets what?’

So, if you are going through the difficult and testing times of a divorce, and if you take only one piece of useful advice from this article, please let it be this...

Do yourself a big favour, and do not waste your money, your energy, or the courts time in pursuing ‘who gets what’.

Is that really good advice? I can almost hear the gasps of astonishment now. Yes, it really is not worth it. And, the courts do not like it. In fact, you may even irritate the Judge by bickering over the contents of the house, where in fact, your emotional energy and time could be better spent in resolving the important issues, along with arrangements for any children that you have. Of course, if called upon, and as a last resort, the courts will get involved. But, it is much more sensible to resolve these issues outside of the court. You may even spare yourself a wrap across the knuckles from the judge at the same time.

If you are unable to resolve the issues surrounding the contents of the house, then how can either of you be expected to resolve the arrangements for the children? And, this is how the court may view it.

Time and time again, the court is asked to sort out the question of ‘who gets what?’ And, in a year or two’s time, you’ll be hard pressed to even remember why you fought so hard for an old sofa anyway. So, please try not to get involved in the petty quarrelling.

But, if you don’t take it to court, how do you resolve the issues?

Well, it is always best to try to resolve these issues between the two of you, if at all possible, and tell the court what you have agreed (if necessary). You may not even need to get your solicitors involved, which of course, will save your legal fees too. And, before you say, ‘well, I’m on legal aid, it isn’t my money’, you may need to think again. Firstly, there are plans to restrict the availability of legal aid in many family law areas, which means that it may become a lot more difficult in future for you to obtain legal aid. So, it makes sense to try to save money (potentially your money). And, secondly, in family law cases, you are usually responsible for paying your own legal costs regardless of the outcome. That is, unless the Judge feels that you have conducted your case unreasonably. The bickering over who gets what, and the numerous letters between your solicitors to try to resolve the issues could, in some exceptional circumstances, be viewed as wasting legal costs, and deemed unreasonable conduct. You may then find yourself being ordered to pay for some, or all, of your ex partners legal fees as well as your own.

Of course, we don’t pretend that every case can be resolved amicably, and the courts understand this as well. But, if you can resolve issues between the two of you, without building up unnecessary legal costs, wasting your emotional energy, and everybody’s time, the whole divorce process, which is a difficult enough experience at the best of times, can be made a whole lot smoother for both of you.

Help for Litigants in Person at Court, and Saving You Money on Legal Fees...

http://www.yourmckenziefriend.co.uk

Check Out The New McKenzie Friend Advert...

Check out the new Your McKenzie Friend advert on You Tube...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WnGJRQq7mHc

http://www.yourmckenziefriend.co.uk

Can I Use SMS Text Messages As Evidence In Court?

I thought I'd share any questions that I get, and feel may be of particular interest to you.


So, here goes...


- Can SMS Text Messages be used as evidence in the UK Courts?

Well, they may be considered by a Court, but you would need to be able to show the whole text exchange and call log for the period in question (i.e. it is not good enough to show isolated text messages, as this would not represent a true reflection of the text exchange, and is easily manipulated).


So, if your phone doesn’t keep a lot of messages, and you want to rely on text messages as evidence, you would need to download them and print them, or record them all in writing. You would also need to make your phone available to the Court and the other party (solicitor) for checking.

In the end, as with most things, it is at the discretion of the Judge what is, and what is not accepted as evidence.




http://www.yourmckenziefriend.co.uk

Family Member As A McKenzie Friend?

I have had a few enquiries lately regarding whether family members may act as a McKenzie Friend for them. So, I thought I'd clarify it for everyone.

You can, in theory, have a family member as a McKenzie Friend.

However, in practice, a close family member will probably have an interest in the outcome of the case, and therefore may not be deemed suitable by the Judge. Your opponent (if an ex partner) may also object to your use of a family member as a McKenzie Friend. I know of cases where a family member has been permitted to act as McKenzie Friend, but also a few where that permission has been refused.

I would always recommend using a McKenzie Friend that is independent (such as you would with a solicitor) and who has no connection to you.


http://www.yourmckenziefriend.co.uk

Latest Legal Stuff Making The Headlines - 4 October 2011

Hello again,

As well as keeping myself out of trouble, busying myself at Court, and assisting in your family law matters, I have been trawling the internet for a few stories of interest that you may well have missed (well, I thought they were interesting anyway!).

1. If you don't want to know the score, look away now...

This is a legal battle involving the owner of a pub and legal rights to show football matches on a 'foreign decoder'...

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-15162241

2. The minimum wage (in the UK) increased on 1st October 2011. Here are the new rates...

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-15124843

3. We are all still waiting the impact of the planned legal aid cuts.

This is one person's take on the effect of any potential cuts on human life...

http://www.lawgazette.co.uk/news/death-inevitable-if-legal-aid-cuts-go-ahead

That's it for now.

Please check out the website, http://wwwyourmckenziefriend.co.uk  if I can help you with any of your legal matters.

Family Law Week: Government's legal aid cuts will harm women and children.

Where, and how hard the axe will fall on legal aid is still open to some debate.


In the meantime, we've found this little snippet of news to keep you up to date...


http://www.familylawweek.co.uk/site.aspx?i=ed86242

A McKenzie Friend: A Helping Hand At Court

The planned changes to the legal aid system, together with the cuts that have already taken place, may affect many people who are either involved in, facing, or taking, legal action.

People may now find that their applications for legal aid funding is refused, whereas, in the past, not only would the funding have been openly offered to them, it would have been almost taken for granted that it would be available.

The funding ‘safety net’ is certainly getting smaller and a little worn out. Many people may just find that it doesn’t offer the same protection now that they had come to expect from it. So, how does one avoid just heading straight-on into that brick wall? Will the decision be to, either give up on the legal process altogether, or face having to find a way to hire a solicitor that they can ill afford?

There is no doubt that things needed changing, and that is not the argument here. Everyone has to work smarter in these ‘times of austerity’ and everyone has to ‘tighten their belts’ a little to survive. The legal system is no different.

There is another way for those having to tackle the legal minefield...

People need a friend. In fact, to be more precise, they need a ‘McKenzie Friend’.

Named after the case that started it all off, the term, ‘McKenzie Friend’, comes from a divorce case, McKenzie v McKenzie [1970]. Mr McKenzie, a litigant in person (i.e. not legally represented) was to have his friend, an Australian Lawyer, (who had no practising rights in the UK), sit next to him in court. The Judge refused permission. The Court of Appeal accepted that, Mr McKenzie should have been allowed to have someone sit next to him, to give him advice, and take notes, etc.

The Practice Guidance: McKenzie Friends (Civil and Family Courts), Lord Neuberger of Abbotsbury, Master of the Rolls, Sir Nicholas Wall, President of the Family Division 12 July 2010, states the following:

What McKenzie Friends can do:

i) provide moral support for litigants;

ii) take notes;

iii) help with case papers;

iv) quietly give advice on any aspect of the conduct of the case.

What McKenzie Friends cannot do:

i) act as the litigants’ agent in relation to the proceedings;

ii) manage litigants’ cases outside court, for example by signing court documents;

iii) address the court, make oral submissions or examine witnesses.

In certain circumstances, the court may grant a ‘McKenzie Friend’ the right to speak in court on behalf of a litigant in person. This is called a 'right of audience’. This may include making oral submissions to the Judge, and cross-examining witnesses. However, the courts are quite slow to allow this to happen, and unless the circumstances are exceptional, it is quite rare.

The most important thing that a ‘McKenzie Friend’ can do is offer moral support both in, and out of court, and help their client get through the process as smoothly as possible. Attending court is not a pleasant experience for most people, although there are some that like nothing better than to have ‘their day in court’. They are however, in the minority. The mere thought of courts can conjure up anxiety, confusion and total despair to all but the very strongest of people. In these difficult and emotional times, it can make all the difference, and a lot of sense, to have someone there to assist them, to guide them, and to prompt them in the right direction.

A ‘McKenzie Friend’ is not a substitute for good legal advice, if that option is available. But, in these financially difficult times, when legal aid is not as freely available as it was, and people still need to deal with legal matters, it can prove to be a very useful tool in their armour and is, above all, that helping hand at court.

Hello and welcome to the blog,

Hello and welcome to the blog,

My intention with the blog, over the coming weeks, months and possibly years, is to give you a little insight into the work of a McKenzie Friend (that's me, Steve Young), to keep you up to date with any legal stuff that is going on that I believe may be of interest to you, and to generally find out from you what you think about things.

So, to begin with, A Mc something what? I hear you say.

Basically, a McKenzie Friend is someone that can help you at court and outside of court with a variety of legal matters (although by help, they generally do not mean by having to pick you up off of the floor because you appeared before the Judge a little worse for drink). Usually, they are not legally qualified, although I am a member of the Institute of Legal Executives (Ilex) and aim to complete my Law Degree and Ilex Diploma in Law and Practice shortly.

To find out more about a McKenzie Friend, why not read my other post on here, ‘McKenzie Friend: A Helping Hand At Court’.

This post is just a short introduction. I didn’t want to appear rude by not introducing myself.

So, until the next time…