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McKenzie Friends United

25 February 2011 / Peter Thompson KC
Issue: 7454 / Categories: Opinion , Procedure & practice
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Peter Thompson QC fights the corner of a tried & trusted friend

McKenzie Friends are in trouble. They may not yet have read the new Practice Guidance on the subject that was issued by the master of the rolls and the president of the Family Division last July; but when they do they will see that they need to smarten up their act and perhaps create their own website!

For a reminder of their humble origins we must turn back to the speech of Lord Tenterden CJ in Collier v Hicks [1831] 2 B & Ad 663: “Any person, whether he be a professional man (or woman) or not, may attend as the friend of either party, may take notes, may quietly make suggestions, and give advice; but no one can demand to take part in the proceedings as an advocate, contrary to the regulations of the court.” The text was adopted with approval by the Court of Appeal in McKenzie v McKenzie [1970] 3 All ER 1034. As a result, litigants in person

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MOVERS & SHAKERS

DWF—19 appointments

DWF—19 appointments

Belfast team bolstered by three senior hires and 16 further appointments

Cadwalader—Andro Atlaga

Cadwalader—Andro Atlaga

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Knights—Ella Dodgson & Rebecca Laffan

Knights—Ella Dodgson & Rebecca Laffan

Double hire marks launch of family team in Leeds

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