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Quite right too. Their role should be limited to verbal and physical assaults on advocates.

Joking aside, it should be down to the judge. I appeared as a MF for an acquaintance in a county court dispute over the ownership of a van. She was the defendant and the claimant appeared in person. I was the only lawyer in the room. Both of the parties flailed around a lot and didn't quite grasp the nuances of what was happening or being asked of them, preferring instead to make broad brush statements about the inherently fair nature of their respective fundamental positions. Thrilling and persuasive of course, but nothing to do with the purpose of the hearing, which was a strike out application I had prepared for the defendant.

The judge, who recognised me from my day job, asked me whether I would be prepared to take a speaking role, which I was, and which in turn led to a much shorter hearing.

I agree with AMQC almost fully, however when faced with two LsIP making a hash of things, sometimes it may be more helpful to the court if a decent MF could speak sometimes.

Either that, or the few civil courts that remain at the end of Gove's reign of terror will be grind to an excruciating halt as LsIP clog lists with little more than invective and guesswork.