A McKenzie Friend is a person who assists a litigant in person (someone representing themselves) during court proceedings in England and Wales. The term comes from the 1970 case McKenzie v McKenzie, in which the Court of Appeal confirmed that any party to civil proceedings has the right to have a lay assistant present during a hearing.
McKenzie Friends can sit alongside you in court, take notes, quietly offer advice, and help you organise your documents and arguments. They cannot, however, speak on your behalf unless the judge grants a specific right of audience — which courts do only in exceptional circumstances.
They are used most commonly in family court proceedings, particularly in child arrangements disputes, financial remedy hearings, and domestic abuse cases. They also appear in employment tribunal hearings, housing possession proceedings, and benefit appeals — wherever people cannot afford or access a solicitor.
Unlike solicitors and barristers — who are regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority and the Bar Standards Board respectively — McKenzie Friends are entirely unregulated. There is no professional body, no mandatory training requirement, no complaints mechanism, and no public record of past conduct.
This creates a serious risk for the litigants who rely on them. Many McKenzie Friends are genuinely skilled, knowledgeable, and committed advocates for the people they support. But some are not. Without any form of public accountability, it is almost impossible for a person in crisis — often dealing with custody disputes, domestic abuse, or homelessness — to make an informed choice about who to trust.
The Law Society and the Legal Services Consumer Panel have both raised concerns about the risks posed by unregulated McKenzie Friends who charge fees. In 2016, the Civil Justice Council produced guidance, but it has no binding force. The situation remains largely unchanged: anyone can call themselves a McKenzie Friend and charge for their services.
McKenzie Friend Reviews was built specifically to fill this accountability gap — creating a permanent, publicly searchable record of real client experiences, every one of them verified by proof of payment before publication.
Before hiring any McKenzie Friend, we strongly recommend the following steps:
Search for their name on McKenzie Friend Reviews — completely free — and read what previous clients have said. Every review on this platform is backed by verified proof of payment to the McKenzie Friend.
A reputable McKenzie Friend should be able to provide at least one reference from a previous client or a professional who has worked alongside them.
Get the scope of work and any fee structure in writing before work begins. This protects you and creates a record if things go wrong.
Ask specifically which courts they have attended, which areas of law they are familiar with, and whether they have experience of cases like yours.
A good McKenzie Friend will be clear about what they cannot do. If someone suggests they can "represent you" or "fight your case", treat that as a red flag.
McKenzie Friend Reviews is a free public service. Browse verified reviews by name, area of law, or court type — and leave your own review at no cost.