Day in the life of a Litigant in Person

A DAY IN THE LIFE OF A LITIGANT IN PERSON!

Some of you will probably recall, that whilst sitting alone in front of a judge or accompanied by a McKenzie Friend (Court Helper), that the judge told you that you are entitled to be represented by a Solicitor, or the judge inferred that you would be better off with a Solicitor instead of a Mckenzie Friend.

If cost were no object, then quite so, you may not have turned up at Court with a Solicitor. And if honesty, integrity, reliability and customer service were not at the top of your list, then yes, again to a Solicitor.

Why do judges make these comments? Most County Court judges are ex Solicitors and Barristers. That we ordinary mortals simply could not afford a Solicitor for a day, let alone to run the entire course of a case, simply doesn’t enter their minds. As ex Solicitors, barristers and judges they are used to being paid enormous fees, so they assume that everyone can afford them. Recommending their own ‘Club’, is also often at the forefront of their minds.

So, dear friends, when you hear a judge tell you about Solicitors, please don’t assume you or your McKenzie Friend is being brutally criticized or mocked. Please just smile politely and soldier on!!

Nicola Matheson-Durrant, Director Family Law Clinic Ltd,

On a more balanced note I see that the Family Law Clinic Limited charges rates which are higher than those charged by *solicitors* who deal with public funding.

I also note that there is no affiliation with the Law Society therefore no regulation.

'Buyer beware'

Charles

Nicola

You have listed yourself on Wikivorce as "Lawyer" it will therefore be assumed by readers that is your own profession or that you will consult lawyers before answering any questions.

I note that you yourself act as a McKenzie Friend for your company and that your early work was for Hewlett Packard, a company who make printers, not a law firm. Would you please advise what legal qualifications you have to list yourself on here as a "lawyer" and if not personal qualifications which of your colleagues (and their qualifications) will you be calling on to provide the sound, free of charge advice that Wiki is famous for?

It appears we have multiple postings. See also;

www.wikivorce.com/divorce/Divorce-Advice...n-Person.html#206392

Charles, Charles, Charles! Come now, Charles. Its all there on our Home Page! You need to read things very carefully before you make such allegations. You dont honestly think we havent ensured that we arent clear, open and honest about everything, do you? That is why our business is popular and growing, and certain other business arent, Charles. We can still be friends, though!

Ursa Najor - I am sure that if you or others who may or may not be vulnerable truly want to assess my sincerity or integrity, by viewing all aspects of our company website, you and all others who may be considering our/my integrity or usefulness, will be able to make up their own minds after seeing the website. The users of this site are free to decide, and we dont need to advertise or do a hard sell. We offer alternatives, in line with one of the objectives of this site.

The users of this site may be "free to decide" however they may not be in a position to judge whether the advice they are being given is accurate and unbiased.
One often chooses a solicitor based on their reputation locally or by word of mouth. This is impossible to do on a website such as this and it behoves the "professional" adviser to declare their hand or be judged on the quality of their advice.

Many of us are "professionals" in our own area of expertise but leave it to others to judge whether or not to take our advice based on the quality of our guidance.

Others declare themselves as solicitors or actuaries but add a disclaimer that their advice is given without prejudice as the information they are working on is limited or incomplete. These people are again judged on the quality of advice given. Those who give a high standard of advice have responded many times to cries for help, and have many "thank yous" to their credit.

I appreciate you are new to this site but all the posts we have seen from you so far are thinly veiled advertisements for your services, which, when one goes to your website are not offered gratis but for a fee and without regulation from any authorised body.

Once again I must press you for a free and frank explanation of your qualifications and expertise without being referred back to your website. You have chosen to appear on here why will you personally not show your hand? Why do you hide behind the slick marketing hype of your website?