The McKenzie Friend Scheme
Third year students have the opportunity to participate in Newcastle Law School’s “McKenzie Friend” Scheme. McKenzie Friends are members of the public who accompany litigants in order to provide them with assistance by making suggestions, providing advice or taking notes. Such a “friend” has no right of audience before a Court. However, such a friend can perform a valuable role in taking a structured statement ahead of Court proceedings. This is an art in itself and develops both inter-personal and professional skills useful to law and non-law careers.
The Law School, in partnership with the National Centre for Domestic Violence, trains volunteer third-year law students to become McKenzie Friends to support victims of domestic violence who often do not have legal representation. Northumbria Police and the local judiciary also participate in training and promoting this scheme.
Uniquely, students who do this can gain academic credit by writing a Research Topic on the subject of domestic violence.