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It is not clear to me what Richard Miller means when he says that a McKenzie Friend is not a qualified lawyer. Clearly, many (quite possibly a significant majority) will have never been legally qualified but doubtless there will be others who are in a similar position to myself.

Since retiring from the Bench (and with my name still on the Roll of Solicitors), occasionally in as well as out of court, as a SSAFA caseworker, I have been providing serving and retired members of our armed forces, who are not in a financial position to afford the services of a solicitor, with pro bono advice and assistance. Needless to say, from the outset I make it absolutely clear that I do not hold a Practising Certificate and that as a result, if the matter goes to court, although I will continue to help, the individual concerned will be a litigant in person.

I fully understand why the profession is so opposed to McKenzie Friends being able to charge for their services and indeed support that opposition. However, for so long as the current far reaching curtailment of public funding continues, in the interests of justice and a fair society there surely has to be unfettered scope for the likes of me continuing to be in a position to provide free legal advice and assistance, as and when there is a perceived need.