In the family courts of England and Wales we have created a three tier legal system where less than half of people going to court get representation.  Only the wealthy can afford to pay the £330 per hour that 8 year qualified solicitors outside London can charge today.  Only those who are on low income and victims of domestic abuse can get legal aid.  And for the rest.... well they are forced to try to represent themselves in proceedings that will affect the rest of their lives, such as future contact arrangements for children, or how matrimonial assets that have taken sometimes 40 years to build up will divided. 

This is not right.  This is not equality of arms or justice for people who have to represent themselves in a totally alien environment against the other side who more often than not have legal representation.  

McKenzie Friends have long provided invaluable assistance to litigants who, for a variety of reasons, are without legal representation in court. However, despite the critical function they serve, their capacity to genuinely support is limited. Currently, they are not allowed to conduct litigation or have rights of audience to speak on behalf of litigants in person in the family courts. This means that the litigants themselves must navigate complex legal processes, often at a very distressing time in their lives. 

Allowing McKenzie Friends to undertake these tasks could significantly improve the litigants' chances of achieving a fair outcome. In a report from 2001, the Legal Services Consumer Panel recommended allowing McKenzie Friends wider rights, due to the increasing numbers of self-representing litigants. 

It's time to modernize our approach and eliminate barriers to fair justice. Let's empower McKenzie Friends and, in turn, empower the litigants they support. Sign this petition to grant McKenzie Friends the right to conduct litigation and speak on behalf of litigants in person in the family courts.