McKenzie Friends - courts/tribunals only?

[ReaderScars]

Do McKenzie Friends offer guidance/support outside of the court room? For instance, if a meeting was to take place (outside of any legal environment or administration, for want of a better word) whereby a resolution to a long standing dispute was being sought, could an MF attend - or are they courts and tribunals only?

I feel I might benefit from the opinion of someone at said meeting who might be versed in tenant's rights, possibly building regs relating to noisy neighbours and poor landlords.

[CYMR0]

A McKenzie friend is specifically someone with no legal rights of audience who is nonetheless allowed to assist (but not represent) a litigant in person.

There is no bar on them acting unless the person convening the meeting/arbitration/adjudication etc. wishes to prevent their attendance.

As this would not be governed by any court procedure, there is no automatic right of representation as no one is exercising a judicial function.

So the short answer is that you can be represented, unless you can't. As you (and the person on the other side) are both acting as principal then you can each walk away if you are not happy with the arrangements, subject of course to any contractual arrangements that say otherwise.

[ReaderScars]

Right, thanks...is it the case that I would have already identified a person with the right background, or is there a repository of these Friends? If so, how could I acquire one?