Professional Referrals to JSH Law: Family Court Support for Litigants in Person

The short answer

Yes, professionals can signpost a person to JSH Law for specific non-reserved family court support. Potential tasks include organising evidence, producing chronologies, preparing working document drafts and practical hearing preparation. The prospective client contacts us, we assess the work and agree the scope and fees directly with them.

JSH Law is not an SRA-authorised solicitors’ firm and does not conduct litigation or exercise advocacy rights as of right. We do not pay referral commissions, and no professional should send confidential case papers simply because they have made an introduction.

1. Why a professional referral might help

A family case can involve several different kinds of work. The legal questions may require a solicitor or barrister, while the practical preparation may involve months of messages, earlier court orders, reports, schedules and an approaching deadline. An individual may have received sound legal advice but still be overwhelmed by the work required to act upon it.

The distinction matters. Professional advice and advocacy are not the same as collating records, tracing the source of a disputed assertion or preparing a concise chronology. These tasks may be suitable for separate assistance, provided the client understands what is being offered and responsibility for reserved legal work remains where it belongs.

2. Who JSH Law can support — and when to refer elsewhere

The service is intended primarily for litigants in person dealing with private-law family proceedings, but specific document-preparation tasks may sometimes complement an existing solicitor or barrister. It is not a general case-management retainer and is not suitable for replacing regulated advice where that is required.

Where domestic abuse is involved, the possibility of legal aid for domestic abuse matters should be checked before assuming privately funded support is the only option. Eligibility and scope depend on the case.

3. What a defined-scope instruction can include

JSH Law may consider the following practical work, subject to available information, the current court order, confidentiality restrictions and the agreed terms:

• Chronologies: organising events, court orders and professional involvement into a dated, source-referenced account.
• Evidence registers and indexes: identifying the origin, date and relevance of documents, and distinguishing what is agreed, contested or already determined.
• Document-structure assistance: producing working drafts and schedules for the client’s approval or review by their solicitor or barrister.
• Cafcass and social care records: comparing reports with underlying documents and identifying specific factual questions or discrepancies.
• Court bundles: helping with organisation, indexing and formatting subject to the applicable directions and the distinction between preparing papers and conducting litigation.
• Hearing preparation: assembling the latest order, a list of deadlines, the documents needed and questions the client wishes to raise.
• McKenzie Friend assistance: appropriate reasonable assistance to an unrepresented litigant where the court permits it.

Related JSH Law material includes the family court witness statement guide, guide to challenging an inaccurate social worker report and bundle preparation support.

4. How to refer someone safely

The normal route is signposting, not the transfer of a case file. A professional can tell the individual about JSH Law and leave them free to decide whether to make contact. This is particularly important where the person may be vulnerable, dependent on an adviser or under financial pressure.

1. Identify the specific task: for example, a chronology, an evidence index or preparation for a hearing, rather than general legal representation.
2. Explain the service honestly: JSH Law is paid, independent and non-SRA-authorised. Explain that other providers and free or regulated services remain options.
3. Let the individual decide: direct them to book a consultation or make a limited introduction with informed consent and an appropriate lawful basis.
4. Assess suitability: JSH Law establishes the relevant task, deadlines, whether legal advice is needed and what documents can properly be provided.
5. Agree work and fees: the client receives a defined scope and applicable fee arrangements before any instruction begins.

Do not send an entire bundle, medical records, children’s records, protected addresses or privileged advice in an initial referral email. A broad summary of the task and an imminent deadline will usually be enough to start a suitability discussion.

5. How JSH Law works with different professionals

Solicitors and barristers

A client may have excellent legal advice yet still need help preparing factual material for a conference or hearing. Separate preparation work must have clear limits, avoid duplicated billing and respect the existing legal retainer. JSH Law does not take over the lawyer’s instructions, determine court strategy or require the legal team to adopt a draft it has produced.

For the individual already represented, see support alongside a solicitor or barrister.

Family mediators

Mediation may be unsuitable, may end without agreement or may be followed by court proceedings. Signposting to practical document support can be appropriate, but must not compromise mediator neutrality, confidentiality, safeguarding screening or genuine client choice. Confidential mediation communications should not be forwarded without considering the applicable duties and protections.

Domestic abuse services, IDVAs and ISVAs

Support workers may know that a person is struggling with complex paperwork, trauma, digital exclusion or the practical demands of litigation. JSH Law can consider documentary assistance, but safeguarding and specialist advocacy must remain the priority. An unsafe method of contact or transmission may expose a person to monitoring or retaliation.

Practice Direction 27C recognises a distinct attendance and support role for IDVAs and ISVAs in family proceedings. That is not the same role as a McKenzie Friend or legal representative.

Charities, advice clinics and community services

We welcome non-exclusive signposting and sharing educational material. We do not pay commissions, seek preferential access to vulnerable service users or suggest paid assistance where an appropriate free or funded route should be explored first.

6. Confidentiality, safeguarding and client information

Children proceedings involve sensitive records and restrictions on communication. An introduction is not a blanket authority to share a court file, police disclosure, school records or confidential professional reports. Permissions, protective directions and lawful data handling must be checked before information changes hands.

The Family Procedure Rules, particularly rules 12.73 and 12.75, and Practice Direction 12G allow specified confidential communication of information for advice or assistance, subject to their conditions and court directions. They do not allow unrestricted public circulation, and certain recipients face restrictions on onward communication.

• Obtain the individual’s informed consent and identify an appropriate lawful basis for any proposed disclosure.
• Share no more than is necessary at the introduction stage. Agree appropriate secure arrangements for any later records.
• Take particular care with protected addresses, children’s personal information, domestic abuse risk and the possibility of an account or device being monitored.
• Where legal advice, draft opinions or privileged correspondence may be involved, consult the instructed lawyer about implications before sharing.
• Do not upload confidential family court material into unsuitable public AI services.

Where domestic abuse allegations are relevant to child arrangements, Practice Direction 12J informs the court’s approach. Allegations, records, professional assessments and findings must remain carefully differentiated.

7. McKenzie Friend and regulatory boundaries

Under the Judiciary’s McKenzie Friends Practice Guidance, a litigant in person may receive reasonable assistance from a layperson, including quiet advice, help with papers, note-taking and moral support. The court can regulate or restrict such assistance in the interests of justice and fairness.

McKenzie Friend status gives no automatic right to address the court, examine witnesses or conduct litigation. Any rights of audience or permission to conduct litigation are separate, exceptional questions for the court, and the guidance is particularly restrictive about people regularly offering advocacy for reward. Someone already represented does not automatically have an additional entitlement to a McKenzie Friend at the hearing.

JSH Law Ltd is not an SRA-authorised solicitors’ firm. It provides lawful non-reserved practical support, document assistance and suitable McKenzie Friend services, not reserved conduct of litigation or representation as of right. The litigant or their properly authorised representative remains responsible for the necessary procedural acts.

8. Fees, independence and accountability

JSH Law is a paid service. The proposed deliverable, relevant deadline, price or fee basis, payment requirements and client terms are agreed with the individual before work begins. A referral itself does not establish an instruction or an obligation to pay.

• No referral commissions or exclusive arrangements: the client and referring professional remain free to choose appropriate alternatives.
• No guarantee of litigation outcomes: an organised evidence index does not guarantee admission, findings or a particular court order.
• Separate professional responsibilities: a referring solicitor or barrister retains responsibility under their own retainer; JSH Law is responsible only for the task it actually accepts.
• Correct route for complex needs: if regulated legal advice, representation, legal aid or urgent safeguarding help is required, say so.

For professional collaboration or general educational resources, email jessica.hill@jshlaw.co.uk. Do not attach identifying or confidential client papers to an unsolicited introduction.

9. Frequently asked questions

Can a solicitor refer someone while still acting for them?

Potentially, for a genuinely separate, lawful task. Define the work, clarify responsibility and ensure confidentiality and privilege are addressed. Additional assistance must not disrupt the solicitor’s own conduct of the case.

Can a mediator suggest JSH Law?

Yes, subject to the mediator’s standards, independence and the client’s choice. The professional should not disclose confidential mediation information or give the impression that one provider has preferential status.

Will JSH Law take a confidential bundle as part of an introduction?

Not by default. We first establish suitability, necessity, the permitted scope of sharing and secure arrangements. An introduction should not be treated as authorisation to forward sensitive case records.

Can JSH Law speak for the person in court?

Not as of right. The ordinary McKenzie Friend role is reasonable assistance to a litigant in person. Rights of audience and the conduct of litigation are not included automatically. If legal representation is required, an authorised professional is the appropriate option.

What if someone cannot pay?

Free advice and publicly funded routes should be considered where relevant. The GOV.UK legal aid checker is a useful starting point. JSH Law is not a free advice clinic.

10. Primary sources and related guidance

• Judiciary — McKenzie Friends Practice Guidance
• Family Procedure Rules, Part 12
• Practice Direction 12G — Communication of Information
• Practice Direction 27C — IDVA and ISVA Attendance
• Practice Direction 12J — Domestic Abuse and Harm
• GOV.UK — Legal Aid: Domestic Abuse

Also on JSH Law: support alongside a solicitor or barrister; private children proceedings roadmap; participation directions and special measures.