Need McKenzie friend - children

[committeddad]

Hello,

I am new here. I need a recommendation for a MacKenzie friend who is knowledgeable of children matters, courts and who is experienced and reliable. I need one that covers Norfolk.

I have already looked at directories, I am looking for a recommendation.

Thank you.

[charitynjw]

Re: Need McKenzie friend - children

No, only certain people can act before the court. A barrister's job is to conduct in court, and now solicitors have 'rights of audience' too....but could not previously. It is simply mine-field when professionals say they can act as McKenzie Friends. A McKenzie Friend was meant to be a free service, not professionals trying to exploit the poor!

http://www.bailii.org/ew/cases/EWCA/Civ/2005/759.html

[Openlaw15]

Re: Need McKenzie friend - children

Not necessarily - a request can be made to the court for right of audience.

No, only certain people can act before the court. A barrister's job is to conduct in court, and now solicitors have 'rights of audience' too....but could not previously. It is simply mine-field when professionals say they can act as McKenzie Friends. A McKenzie Friend was meant to be a free service, not professionals trying to exploit the poor!

[charitynjw]

Re: Need McKenzie friend - children

A lawyer can address the court, a McKenzie's friend cannot.

Not necessarily - a request can be made to the court for right of audience.

[Openlaw15]

Re: Need McKenzie friend - children

http://www.mckenziefriend.co.uk/ ?

The Dr's fees:
Initial Contact Charges

There are no charges for initial guidance given by e-mail or telephone
"Case Charges

Dr Gill charges £ 48 per hour for work related to a case.
Alternatively, fixed fees, which included travelling and all expenses, are available for court hearings.
Fixed fees for court hearings vary between £200 and £350 depending upon the length of the hearing and travelling time."

Would a lawyer be anymore expensive, is the question. A lawyer can address the court, a McKenzie's friend cannot.

[charitynjw]

Re: Need McKenzie friend - children

http://www.mckenziefriend.co.uk/ ?

[Openlaw15]

Re: Need McKenzie friend - children

I know McKenzie friends who deal with family court but are specialists in terms of care proceedings.
I'll see if @Amethyst has any offers as Kati has suggested something and you don't like it.
I'll see if @Openlaw15 might have any suggestions as well.

If you haven't read the book by Lucy Reed which is about appearing as a Litigant in person then that is an option. This book is the one she wrote so might be available in library or book shop: http://www.nofamilylawyer.co.uk/

Other options possibly from another website: Separated Dad's one(i've linked directly to the McKenzie friends bit: http://www.separateddads.co.uk/using...end-court.html
Their website might offer articles that would interest you.

I'm gonna step back from the thread as I think I've done all I can do for the time being. Good Luck.

Thank you Leclerc. There will be people who will offer so-called "McKenzie Friend's" assistance. The problem is you cannot be sure of how good those services will be unless they're professionals at what they do. The ones who will offer it am guessing they will charge you too, implying they're some lawyer even though that's likely a criminal offence. In the 1970 Mackenzie case the friend assisting was actually a qualified Australian Barrister and the judge accepted in theory that a legally qualified person could act for a litigant. The thing about this case also is that the services were provided for free as a solicitor recommended a junior barrister owing to legal aid being stopped. So the further inference is that if legal aid were an alternative then a McKenzie Friend option would not apply.

[leclerc]

Re: Need McKenzie friend - children

https://fnf.org.uk/

I don't like their security on this one, lol!

and Amethyst would never listen to me. She'd slap me first before she did

[Amethyst]

Re: Need McKenzie friend - children

I can't remember the name of the other organisation, I thought it was families need fathers, but on a search came up with a forum with 6 members... [MENTION=2]Celestine[/MENTION] might know their name. I wasn't suggesting joining F4J just seeing if their forums held any recommendations.

You've obviously had some bad experiences but tbf we aren't to know that and can only try and help with the very limited information we have.

[committeddad]

Re: Need McKenzie friend - children

Are you aware that fathers for justice is an organisation that:
-Takes money in subscriptions and does not deliver the help it promises in the website?
- Is run by an individual who is constantly in trouble with the law?
- Is known for its people who carry out reckless stunts like climbing up the Houses of Parliament dressed as Batman and bring serious fathers into disrepute?
- Has had so many conflicts between its members that a number of organisations have been formed by former members who were expelled or left as a result of the conflict: new fathers for justice, the real fathers for justice, etc?

[Amethyst]

Re: Need McKenzie friend - children

I know, that organisation is so worrying, a place for all these people to pat each other on the back to the exclusion of anybody who is affected or who is critical of any of them. How can the government allow this?

- - - Updated - - -

Are you telling me to go away because leclerc said so? Are other people in the forum not allowed to give a recommendation of they can?

Not sure I'm with you there ? I haven't told you to go away, I'm trying to give you ideas of where to look as this probably isn't the best place to find personal recommendations for a mckenzie friend specialising in family law in Norfolk... and F4J or Gingerbread has more dedicated forums for people who are in similar positions as you and who might have had experience, and thus be able to recommend good people.

I would also second LeClerc suggestion of looking at Lucy Reed's guidance

[leclerc]

Re: Need McKenzie friend - children

OK, let us see if any other users here know about McKenzie friends

I know McKenzie friends who deal with family court but are specialists in terms of care proceedings.
I'll see if [MENTION=6]Amethyst[/MENTION] has any offers as Kati has suggested something and you don't like it.
I'll see if [MENTION=77627]Openlaw15[/MENTION] might have any suggestions as well.

If you haven't read the book by Lucy Reed which is about appearing as a Litigant in person then that is an option. This book is the one she wrote so might be available in library or book shop: http://www.nofamilylawyer.co.uk/

Other options possibly from another website: Separated Dad's one(i've linked directly to the McKenzie friends bit: http://www.separateddads.co.uk/using...end-court.html
Their website might offer articles that would interest you.

I'm gonna step back from the thread as I think I've done all I can do for the time being. Good Luck.

[committeddad]

Re: Need McKenzie friend - children

I know, that organisation is so worrying, a place for all these people to pat each other on the back to the exclusion of anybody who is affected or who is critical of any of them. How can the government allow this?

- - - Updated - - -

Are you telling me to go away because leclerc said so? Are other people in the forum not allowed to give a recommendation of they can?

[Amethyst]

Re: Need McKenzie friend - children

Ahh leclerc has already mentioned f4j... and you've already got the link to the court system, council and cafcass ... I really should learn to refresh before posting xx

[Amethyst]

Re: Need McKenzie friend - children

I believe the justice board is heavily connected to the MOJ & FJC - https://www.judiciary.gov.uk/related...fjc/about-fjc/

I'm afraid I don't know anyone to be able to give any personal recommendation - the guys over on fathers 4 justice forum or gingerbread http://gingerbread.org.uk/Forum/topics.aspx?ForumID=46 might have a better idea and you are more likely to find someone with personal experience there.