Court & Hearing Support

1. Available routes at a glance

2. Paid McKenzie Friend assistance

A litigant in person may ordinarily receive reasonable assistance from a layperson commonly called a McKenzie Friend. The role may include:

• providing moral support;
• taking notes;
• helping with case papers; and
• quietly giving advice on the conduct of the case.

A McKenzie Friend has no independent right to act as an advocate or conduct litigation. The role does not permit the assistant to act as your agent, manage the proceedings, sign court documents, address the judge, make oral submissions or examine witnesses. You remain responsible for the case and remain a litigant in person.

The court controls who may assist and may limit or refuse assistance where justified. A proposed McKenzie Friend may need to provide a short CV or statement of experience, confirm no interest in the case, understand the role and maintain confidentiality.

A lawful fee may be agreed for reasonable assistance, preparation and advice. The fee cannot normally be recovered from the opposing party. Read the judiciary’s Practice Guidance: McKenzie Friends.

3. Small-claims lay representation

The Lay Representatives (Rights of Audience) Order 1999 allows a lay representative to exercise rights of audience in proceedings dealt with as a small claim, subject to specific exclusions. The service may be considered only where:

• the claim has been allocated to and is being dealt with on the small-claims track;
• you are the party and will attend the hearing;
• the hearing is not a stage after judgment;
• it is not an appeal against a district judge’s decision in the proceedings; and
• the documents, time available, subject matter and hearing arrangements make the service suitable.

This right of audience does not authorise The Legal Desk to conduct the litigation. You remain responsible for starting or defending the claim, filing and serving documents, complying with directions and court orders, paying fees and attending.

A fixed fee will be quoted only after the allocation order and hearing notice have been reviewed. Travel, accommodation, waiting time and any adjourned hearing will be stated separately. Small-claims costs are tightly limited, so you should assume the fee will not be recovered from the other party.

Read the Lay Representatives (Rights of Audience) Order 1999 and Civil Procedure Rules Part 27.

4. Solicitor-supervised work

A “cooperating solicitor” arrangement is not enough, on its own, to let The Legal Desk sell or perform reserved litigation or advocacy services.

Where an authorised solicitor’s firm accepts a client, the firm must establish and control its own retainer, conflicts process, supervision, insurance position, client-money arrangements, complaints procedure and responsibility for the matter. The firm may then define work that Ezrick can lawfully undertake as part of its team or outsourced support.

Any advocacy must also rest on a specific authorisation, statutory exemption or permission applicable to that person, court, hearing and matter. Supervision does not create a general right of audience. Unless the authorised firm confirms otherwise in its own retainer, The Legal Desk remains outside the solicitor-client contract and does not conduct the litigation.

5. When regulated representation is the correct route

A practising solicitor, appropriately authorised Public Access barrister or other regulated advocate will ordinarily be the correct route for:

• fast-track, intermediate-track or multi-track civil litigation;
• appeals and post-judgment advocacy outside the small-claims exemption;
• criminal proceedings and other work requiring reserved advocacy;
• formal conduct of litigation, including going on the court record and accepting procedural responsibility;
• urgent injunctions, complex evidence or high-value and high-risk disputes; and
• any case where regulated insurance, privilege or external complaints protection is important.

The Legal Desk may help organise the file and identify the kind of provider required. Any professional decides independently whether to accept the matter and contracts with you separately. No outcome, availability or fee is guaranteed.

6. Insurance and client protections

Services supplied directly by The Legal Desk are not currently covered by professional indemnity insurance. The Legal Desk is not authorised by the SRA or BSB, and the Legal Ombudsman does not have jurisdiction over its direct service.

This is particularly important for court-related work. Before accepting a quote, read the Client Status Statement and consider whether you would prefer an insured, regulated representative.

7. Fees and cancellation

Court support is an enquiry-only, individually quoted service. The quote will identify preparation included, attendance window, location or remote format, travel or waiting charges, cancellation terms, and what happens if the hearing is adjourned or runs longer than listed.

No fee is due merely for sending an initial enquiry. Payment is requested only after the proposed role and scope have been checked and set out in a written Order Summary. If the matter is accepted, the agreed fee may be payable upfront before preparation begins.

8. Information required for an enquiry

In your first email, provide only what is needed to assess the route:

• your name and contact details;
• court or tribunal, case number and case title;
• hearing date, estimated length, location and whether it is remote or in person;
• the track allocation and type of hearing;
• whether you will attend throughout;
• the role you believe you need—quiet assistance, small-claims speaking role, preparation, or a regulated representative; and
• the hearing notice and allocation order, if available.

Do not assume the matter is accepted until you receive and accept a written Order Summary.