Frequently Asked Questions

McKenzie Friends support Litigants in Person during litigation. They can provide practical, moral, and administrative assistance, helping litigants understand objective legal principles, courtroom procedure, and the process of litigation. They can help organise documents, provide note-taking services, and offer moral support. 

They cannot provide tailored legal guidance, file documents on behalf, or help control your case, and they do not perform the same role as a solicitor or barrister.

Put simply: McKenzie Friends can provide administrative and organisational services and  explain the law in an objective capacity, but they cannot advise you on how the law applies to your individual case, which arguments you should make, or the likely outcome of litigation. 

McKenzie Friends do not automatically have the right to represent you in court or conduct litigation on your behalf. It is sometimes possible to request that a McKenzie Friend receive a right of audience to address the court. However, this is rare and permission is subject to judicial discretion.

In most cases, McKenzie Friends do not directly direct the court. However, they can still accompany you to hearings and provide quiet guidance and moral support during litigation.

No, our McKenzie Friends are not regulated legal professionals. They are not solicitors or barristers and cannot carry out any reserved legal activity, as defined by the Legal Services Act 2007.

If your matter is particularly complex or there are likely to be serious consequences, we strongly recommend that you obtain legal advice from a registered solicitor or barrister.

Litigation is difficult to navigate and each case has its own needs. At Find Me Legal Support, we understand that case circumstances are constantly evolving and that it may be difficult to determine which service package is right for you and how much support you need. 

If you are unsure of which service package you need, simply complete our enquiry form with as many details as possible and a member of our team will be in touch to advise you on which package might be most suitable for your needs. 

Unlike regular legal costs, it is rarely possible for McKenzie Friend fees to be recovered from the opposing party. 

The only exception is when fees are incurred when a McKenzie Friend has been granted special discretionary permission to exercise rights of audience. These cases are rare and you should remember that the majority of McKenzie Friend fees cannot be recovered when you are budgeting. 

It’s good to be as thorough as possible when completing our enquiry form. It’s particularly helpful if you can provide dates, chronologies, and details of any impending timelines. The more details we have, the easier it will be for your assigned McKenzie Friend to get to grips with your case and quickly begin working. 

It also helps our team if you can provide any relevant documentation in relation to your legal case. This might include: contracts, invoices, terms & conditions, or records of past correspondence. You can upload these documents when submitting your query form.

If we require any further details, our team will be back in touch to let you know. 

Yes, we use secure software to store your personal details, case circumstances, and documentation. Find Me Legal Support commits to keeping all personal details from which you are identifiable, including names, contact details, and the specific circumstances of your case confidential, except where disclosure is required by law.

Information may be shared internally within Find Me Legal Support to facilitate the coordination of services and allocate a suitable McKenzie Friend. All our McKenzie Friends receive training in the principles of professional confidentiality and understand that personal information must not be distributed outside the organisation except where legally mandated. 

If you have any concerns about confidentiality, data usage or data protection, please don’t hesitate to contact us so we can help resolve your issue. 

Unfortunately, we can only accept up-front payment for the coordination of services. Our McKenzie Friends work for us on a freelance basis and require security before they can begin working on a new case. This is to help protect our team and ensure that payments are received. 

Litigation can be a lengthy and confusing process; it is not uncommon for circumstances to change or for unexpected issues to arise. If you realise that you require further support and want to upgrade your service package, please get in touch with us as soon as possible.

Our service is dependent on the individual availability of our McKenzie Friends and it may not always be possible to upgrade your service package with the same McKenzie Friend. However, our team will do our best to coordinate an effective solution and may be able to allocate you another McKenzie Friend to help provide additional support. 

Our team works hard to ensure each client is matched with a McKenzie Friend who has the necessary skills and availability to support them.

If you are experiencing issues with your McKenzie Friend, please contact us as soon as possible so we can investigate the problem and help resolve your concerns.