A McKenzie Friend (MF) is someone who assists an unrepresented person in court. They can be a lawyer, but they are not a substitute for a lawyer. So lawyer or not, when acting as a MF they may not address the court; they can take notes, organise papers, whisper quietly to and generally assist the litigant. McKenzie v McKenzie (1970) 3 W.L.R 472 was a family law case and MFs are more common in family and guardianship matters, but they may be permitted in any court where an unrepresented person needs assistance to ensure fairness. However, some MFs are overbearing do-gooders, or bush lawyers, who cause disruption and delay rather than actually assist and will not be permitted to remain. In guardianship hearings where there is no right of representation, a lawyer can act as a MF.
NSW – Supreme Court – Equity Division and Common Law Division – Appeals – Practice Note SC CA 1
Information has been added to the Act for Plaintiff and Act for Defendant commentaries in both the Supreme Court Common Law and Equity Guides to incorporate the requirements of Practice Note No. SC CA 1 which was issued on 13 December 2017 and which commenced on 1 January 2018.
All parties to proceedings in the Court of Appeal are required to comply with the requirements contained in Part 51 UCPR (appeals) and Part 59 UCPR ( judicial review). The Practice Note makes additional provision for the preparation and conduct of proceedings in the Court of Appeal.
Local Court NSW – Author review of precedents
The author, Bob Gowenlock, has reviewed the precedents for Acting for the Plaintiff and Acting for the Defendant within the Local Court NSW Guide. The precedents have now been updated to incorporate these amendments by the author.
Domestic violence – Commentary added on national recognition of orders
Commentary added on national recognition of domestic violence orders scheme
QLD – QCAT Publication – Author updates
The commentary within the QCAT Publication has been reviewed by the author and various general amendments and improvements were made.
Courts – NSW
New commentary discusses service of documents by the defendant.
References to Civil Procedure Regulations updated
VIC – Supreme and County Court service
The Supreme and County Court publications have been updated to reflect recent changes relating to ordinary service which may now be effected by email.
VIC – Emailing in the Supreme Court
The Supreme Court (Chapter I Email Service Amendment) Rules 2017 which come into effect on 1 August 2017 requires parties in civil matters to include an email address for service in documents filed with the Court and provide that ordinary service may be effected by email to that address.
Documents are to be served either as attachments to a covering email or by including in the email an operative hyperlink to the documents being served.
District Court Civil NSW
NOVEMBER
- Brand new guide added – ‘Reference Manual – 101 Subpoena Answers for NSW’
OCTOBER
- Acting for the Defendant and Acting for the Plaintiff Guides
- Commentaries added on service outside of Australia
- Commentaries added on list of exhibits
- Costs Agreement
- Included reference to time limit for bringing costs assessment included total estimate of legal costs section with provision for variables and included authority to receive money into trust.
- Disputes section improved, fields for client and firm details added, trust account details added, solicitor’s lien added, execution clauses for individuals and corporations added and general formatting and grammatical improvements.
Local Court Civil NSW
NOVEMBER
- Brand new guide added- ‘Reference Manual – 101 Subpoena Answers for NSW’
OCTOBER
- Updated commentaries with respect to amendments to Local Court Practice Note No. 1 of 2015.
- Costs Agreements
- Included reference to time limit for bringing costs assessment, total estimate of legal costs section with provision for variables and included authority to receive money into trust.
- Disputes section improved, fields for client and firm details added, trust account details added, solicitor’s lien added, execution clauses for individuals and corporations added and general formatting and grammatical improvements.