This Legal Notice and Disclaimer applies to all services provided by Uniqus Limited. Please read it carefully, as it sets out important information about our services, the nature of our assistance, your rights, and the limitations and boundaries of our role.
1. Nature of Services Provided
Uniqus Limited provides alternative legal services and practical support for individuals involved in legal proceedings as litigants in person. We specialise in offering support in Employment Tribunals, Family Tribunals, and various civil disputes. Our services are primarily delivered in the capacity of McKenzie Friends, and, as an additional option, we offer voluntary lay person support free of charge.
We are not solicitors or barristers, nor do we present ourselves as such. Our team consists of experienced lawyers who act strictly within the legal framework for non-regulated persons, as prescribed by law, regulations, and judicial guidance.
2. Distinction Between McKenzie Friend Services and Lay Person Support
McKenzie Friend Services
A McKenzie Friend is a person who assists a litigant in person (someone who is not represented by a solicitor or barrister) during court or tribunal proceedings. The term comes from the leading authority of McKenzie v McKenzie [1970] 3 All ER 1034 (CA), where the Court of Appeal established that litigants in person have the right to have a supporter present to provide moral support, take notes, and quietly give advice or suggestions. McKenzie Friends are permitted to attend court or tribunal with you, help you organise documents, draft statements, prompt you during hearings, and explain procedures. However, McKenzie Friends do not have a right of audience (they cannot address the judge or tribunal), cannot represent you, and cannot carry out reserved legal activities.
Our McKenzie Friend services are chargeable. We provide clear information about fees before we begin work, and you will always know the final price in advance. Our pricing is fixed for the entire duration of our involvement in your case; there are no hidden fees or additional charges, regardless of how much work is required.
Lay Person Support (Free of Charge Option)
A lay person, in the legal context, is any individual who is not a qualified solicitor or barrister and is not regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority or the Bar Standards Board. Lay person support may include general guidance, sharing information, emotional support, practical help in preparing documents, and non-legal assistance. Lay person support does not include appearing before a judge or tribunal, speaking on your behalf, giving formal legal advice, or conducting litigation.
At Uniqus Limited, every client who enters into a McKenzie Friend contract is also offered the option of lay person support, completely free of charge. This is an optional add-on and not a requirement; you are under no obligation to accept this support. We never charge any fee for lay person assistance, and the choice to use or decline this service is entirely yours.
3. What We Can Do
Attend hearings with you in the capacity of McKenzie Friend, providing moral support and taking notes.
Help you prepare case documentation, including witness statements, skeleton arguments, chronologies, and hearing bundles.
Provide general procedural guidance and explain how courts and tribunals operate.
Offer practical support, such as helping you organise your paperwork, manage deadlines, and understand directions from the court or tribunal.
Prompt you and offer discreet advice during hearings, within the boundaries set by the court or tribunal.
Research relevant case law, statutes, and procedural rules to help you understand the legal context of your case.
Share information, templates, and non-legal resources that may assist you in presenting your case.
4. What We Cannot Do
We cannot act as a solicitor or barrister.
We cannot provide reserved legal activities, which include:
Conducting litigation on your behalf
Issuing proceedings or documents as your agent
Exercising rights of audience (addressing the court or tribunal, examining or cross-examining witnesses)
Preparing instruments or transferring property as defined by the Legal Services Act 2007
Probate activities or notarial services as defined in law
We cannot sign or submit documents on your behalf. All documents must be signed and submitted by you.
We cannot give formal legal advice in the sense of advising you as a solicitor or barrister would.
We cannot mislead the court, falsify documents, or engage in any conduct that is dishonest, unlawful, or in contempt of court.
We cannot guarantee any outcome in your case.
5. Legal Status and Authority
McKenzie v McKenzie [1970] 3 All ER 1034 (CA) is the leading authority confirming your right to have a McKenzie Friend present during legal proceedings. The courts have since issued extensive guidance on the conduct, rights, and limits of McKenzie Friends, notably:
Practice Guidance: McKenzie Friends (Civil and Family Courts) [2010] 1 WLR 1881
Presidential Guidance and Practice Directions in Employment Tribunals and Family Courts
Civil Procedure Rules and Family Procedure Rules, which permit the use of McKenzie Friends subject to judicial discretion
You have the right to apply for the support of a McKenzie Friend, but the final decision rests with the presiding judge or tribunal. The court or tribunal can refuse or remove a McKenzie Friend if they believe their presence would disrupt proceedings, is unnecessary, or not in the interests of justice.
6. Disclaimer of Liability and Limitation of Services
A. No Formal Legal Advice
Although our team consists of experienced lawyers, we are not acting as solicitors or barristers in any capacity. We do not provide formal legal advice or act as your representative before any court or tribunal. All information and guidance we provide is of a general, procedural, or practical nature, intended to assist you as a litigant in person. We expressly disclaim any liability for reliance on our guidance as legal advice.
B. No Representation
We do not represent you in court or tribunal proceedings. We do not have the right of audience and cannot make oral submissions, question witnesses, or act as your advocate. If the court or tribunal, in exceptional cases, grants us permission to address the hearing, it will be made clear to you and done strictly in accordance with judicial directions.
C. No Conduct of Litigation
We do not conduct litigation on your behalf. This means we do not issue claims, submit documents as your agent, or correspond with the court, tribunal, or opposing parties in your name.
D. No Guarantee of Outcome
While we strive to support you to the best of our ability, we cannot guarantee any particular outcome, result, or decision in your legal proceedings.
E. No Reserved Legal Activities
We do not undertake any activity which is reserved by law for solicitors, barristers, or other regulated legal professionals. We do not carry out conveyancing, probate, notarial, or other regulated functions.
F. Voluntary Lay Person Services
Our voluntary lay person option is always provided at no cost and is optional. You may use this support for general guidance, emotional reassurance, and basic administrative help. We never charge for this, nor will we ever make it a condition of receiving McKenzie Friend assistance.
G. Transparency and Client Choice
You will always know the final price for our chargeable McKenzie Friend services at the outset. The price will never change, regardless of the amount of work required or time spent on your matter. All lay person assistance remains free of charge.
H. Regulatory and Legal Compliance
We fully comply with all applicable laws, including the Legal Services Act 2007, the Solicitors Act 1974, the Bar Standards Board rules, UK GDPR, the Data Protection Act 2018, and relevant Practice Directions and court rules. We do not present ourselves as solicitors or barristers, nor do we use titles or descriptions that could cause confusion as to our regulated status.
7. Your Rights and Responsibilities
As a client of Uniqus Limited:
You are responsible for presenting your own case, making your own decisions, and signing and submitting all legal documents.
You should inform us if you require additional support, accessibility adjustments, or have specific needs relating to your case.
You should ensure that you understand the limitations of our role, as outlined in this notice and any engagement documentation.
You may at any time decline or withdraw from lay person assistance, without affecting your access to McKenzie Friend support.
8. Free Lay Person Option – Further Detail
The lay person support option is entirely voluntary and available to every client. This may include:
Basic help in understanding court forms, letters, and procedural steps
Non-legal advice, emotional support, and moral encouragement
Assisting with administrative organisation, such as managing timelines, files, and reminders
A lay person may not:
Provide any reserved legal service
Give formal legal advice on your case or rights
Appear in court or tribunal as your representative or address the judge or tribunal
This option is never chargeable. There is no requirement to use this support if you do not wish to, and declining this option will not affect your access to paid McKenzie Friend services.
9. Duration and Termination
Your contract for McKenzie Friend services remains in place until the conclusion of your case or until terminated by agreement. Lay person support is available throughout the same period but may be declined, paused, or resumed at any time, with no effect on our main engagement.
10. Data Protection and Confidentiality
We are committed to protecting your personal data in accordance with the UK General Data Protection Regulation and the Data Protection Act 2018. All information you provide will be treated in strict confidence and used only for the purposes of delivering our agreed services. For further details, please refer to our Privacy Policy.
11. Complaints and Redress
If you are dissatisfied with any aspect of our service, you are encouraged to contact us directly so we may address your concerns promptly and fairly. Our complaints procedure is available upon request. As we are not regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority or Bar Standards Board, complaints relating to reserved legal activities should be directed to the relevant regulatory body.
12. Amendment of Terms
Uniqus Limited reserves the right to amend this Legal Notice and Disclaimer from time to time. Any changes will be communicated to you in writing or published on our website.
13. Governing Law
This Legal Notice and Disclaimer is governed by the laws of England and Wales. Any disputes arising under or in connection with these terms shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of England and Wales.
14. Acknowledgement
By engaging Uniqus Limited, you acknowledge and agree to the terms of this Legal Notice and Disclaimer, including the limits of our services, the optional nature and cost-free status of lay person support, and your own responsibilities as a litigant in person.
Uniqus Limited is committed to providing affordable, accessible, and transparent support for litigants in person. Our services are always delivered within the boundaries set by law and judicial guidance. We believe in empowering our clients through clear information, practical assistance, and the option of free lay person support. We are not solicitors or barristers, and our services do not replace the advice or representation provided by regulated legal professionals. If you require legal representation, or formal legal advice on complex or reserved matters, you should seek the services of a solicitor or barrister.
For further clarification regarding our services, your rights, or any aspect of this Legal Notice and Disclaimer, please contact us directly.