Home / Family / Practice and procedure / McKenzie friends and litigants in person

Legal News

The cost of McKenzie friends

Copyright © 2025 LexisNexis

Published on: 14 January 2014

Published by a LexisNexis Family expert

Table of contents

Original news
What, if any, regulation is there currently for those who act as a McKenzie friend, either voluntarily or for pay?
What services do professional McKenzie friends offer?
In what areas of law are professional McKenzie friends becoming more prominent?
What are the concerns surrounding this practice that has triggered the investigation?
Could those receiving remuneration for services as a McKenzie friend be liable to legal action if they are found to have offered legal advice?
Could this investigation lead to the regulation of McKenzie friends?
Are there professional conduct issues if they are acting in a case where one party is receiving assistance from a professional McKenzie friend?

Article summary

Dispute Resolution analysis: The role of fee-charging McKenzie friends is examined by Peter Thompson QC, general editor of The Civil Court Practice, in the light of a current investigation into their activities by the Legal Services Consumer Panel.

Popular documents

Striking out a statement of case

Striking out a statement of caseThis Practice Note explains the court's power to strike out a statement of case. It summarises the grounds on which a strike out may be ordered and the procedure on an application. It looks at the court's discretion, consequential directions following an order to

Priority between loss reliefs in loss making companies

Priority between loss reliefs in loss making companiesWhy does it matter?A company that is a member of a group and has incurred any of the types of losses available for surrender by way of group relief may, without any further rules, have more than one way in which to use the loss. There are a

If a rentcharge is shown as being informally exonerated on title information, does this apply to the

If a rentcharge is shown as being informally exonerated on title information, does this apply to the current registered owner? Or does the informal exoneration only apply to the parties to the document which informally exonerated the rentcharge?This Q&A considers the situation where, at some

Contributory negligence in personal injury claims

Contributory negligence in personal injury claimsContributory negligence is a partial defence which can lead to a discount in damages.Other defences may also be relevant. See Practice Notes: Did the claimant consent to the risk of injury? and Was the claimant involved in an illegal activity?If a