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Hold off on sending confidential documents or paying any fees until there is a written agreement setting out what is being done, what it costs and how it ends — and until you know exactly who you are dealing with.
Ask what they have actually done before and in which courts, whether you can speak to someone they have helped, and for their full name, business details and fee in writing.
McKenzie Friends are not regulated. No qualification, licence or insurance is required to use the title, and being listed here is not a check on anyone's credentials or conduct.
David Gibbs
20 years experience. I am a former member of the Institute of Legal Executives (FILEX) with experience supporting litigants in person in family court proceedings, divorce matters, and applications relating to benefits and war pensions. I provide practical guidance and assistance with preparing position statements, organising court documentation, and other administrative tasks to help individuals navigate legal processes.
About Me
I am an experienced legal support professional and former member of the Institute of Legal Executives (FILEX), with a background in supporting litigants in person through family court proceedings, divorce matters, and applications for benefits and war pensions.
I understand that navigating the legal system can be daunting, particularly for individuals representing themselves. I offer practical guidance and support with preparing position statements, organising court documents, completing administrative tasks, and preparing for court proceedings.
My aim is to provide a professional, approachable and supportive service, helping individuals feel better prepared, more informed and more confident when dealing with challenging legal matters.
This profile is not independently verified
We have not checked this provider's details or credentials. Please take these steps first.
- Don't send court bundles or confidential documents until you've had the consultation.
- Get the fee terms in writing before any work begins.
- Pay by traceable means into a business account rather than cash.
About David
About Me
I am an experienced legal support professional and former member of the Institute of Legal Executives (FILEX), with a background in supporting litigants in person through family court proceedings, divorce matters, and applications for benefits and war pensions.
I understand that navigating the legal system can be daunting, particularly for individuals representing themselves. I offer practical guidance and support with preparing position statements, organising court documents, completing administrative tasks, and preparing for court proceedings.
My aim is to provide a professional, approachable and supportive service, helping individuals feel better prepared, more informed and more confident when dealing with challenging legal matters.
Qualifications: Filex Qualifications in law and practice
How David Can Help
- Court accompaniment
- Case preparation
- Note-taking in court
- Emotional support
- Evidence organisation
- Procedural guidance
What David is up to
Latest activity and updates from David Gibbs.
No recent updates yet — check back soon to see what David is working on.
What clients say
"I cannot express how much it helped having someone take the time to explain the court process to me. I was feeling anxious and overwhelmed, but the support and guidance helped me feel more organised and confident. I felt listened to and treated with respect throughout."
Dianne, Family Court Support
"Navigating the legal system on your own can be daunting. I needed clear information and practical help preparing for my case. The guidance made things easier to understand and helped me focus on what I needed to do. I would recommend this service to anyone needing support."
Mike, Court Preparation
"During a very difficult period in my life, I needed someone who would listen and help me understand my options. I appreciated the patient approach, clear explanations and practical advice on preparing my paperwork. It made a stressful situation feel more manageable."
Maria, Personal Support and Guidance
David's Website
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Listed on Bridge The Gap
David Gibbs has chosen to list on Bridge The Gap and can be contacted directly using the details above. McKenzie Friends are not regulated, vetted, or endorsed by us. The profession is unregulated — please read their profile carefully, ask questions, and make your own judgement.
Choosing your McKenzie Friend
The court does not expect a McKenzie Friend to be regulated, registered or insured. What the court looks at is how the McKenzie Friend works within the official guidance, set out in Guidance from the President’s Office: McKenzie Friends and the Practice Guidance: McKenzie Friends (Civil and Family Courts), both published on the Judiciary website. Every McKenzie Friend listed here respects that guidance. They are your partners in your journey, but you remain the party to your case and you are the one who answers to the court.
Under the Family Procedure Rules, the parties are required to help the court further the overriding objective (rule 1.3). A statement of truth on your statement of case or application notice must be signed by you, or by your litigation friend or legal representative (Practice Direction 17A, para 3.1), and a witness statement is signed by the person who made it (rule 17.2). Proceedings for contempt of court may be brought against anyone who makes, or causes to be made, a false statement in a verified document (Practice Direction 17A, para 2.1 and rule 17.6). In financial remedy cases, the duty of full and honest disclosure is the party’s own duty under the Pre-Application Protocol annexed to Practice Direction 9A.
A McKenzie Friend may help with your case papers and give advice on law and procedure, so you can also ask what insurance they hold, what it covers and how they protect your documents and personal information. It is your responsibility to read their reviews and ask questions to check they are a good fit for you.
Danger signs to look out for:
- They say they will act for you, manage your case or sign court documents. The guidance says a McKenzie Friend has no right to act on behalf of a litigant in person and may not act as your agent.
- They say they will speak for you at the hearing or question witnesses as a matter of course. A McKenzie Friend is not entitled to address the court or examine witnesses. A right of audience is granted only in exceptional circumstances, and you must apply at the outset of the hearing.
- They want to make the decisions in your case. The court can refuse or curtail assistance where the McKenzie Friend is using the litigant as a puppet or is directly or indirectly conducting the litigation.
- They tell you the other side will pay their fees. Fees agreed with you for reasonable assistance are lawful but cannot be recovered from the opposing party.
- They are subject to a civil proceedings order or a civil restraint order, or cannot show they understand the duty of confidentiality.
- They cannot tell you how they will look after your documents and personal information. The court does not ask for this, but data protection law applies to them separately. Sole traders and organisations that use personal information must pay the ICO data protection fee unless exempt, and the ICO publishes a register of fee payers.
There is no substitute for legal advice. A McKenzie Friend supports you in your case, but is not a solicitor or barrister and does not take the place of one. A McKenzie Friend cannot act as your representative, speak for you in court or conduct your litigation unless the court has granted that right. Advice on how the law applies to your own circumstances, and on the consequences of the decisions you make, should come from a regulated legal professional. That matters most before you agree to anything, sign anything or make a decision that affects your finances, your children or your home. Using a McKenzie Friend does not remove your own responsibility to the court, and it is not a reason to go without legal advice where you can get it.
Sources:
- Guidance from the President’s Office: McKenzie Friends
- Practice Guidance: McKenzie Friends (Civil and Family Courts), July 2010, paras 4, 10, 13, 27 to 29
- McKenzie Friends, Courts and Tribunals Judiciary
- Family Procedure Rules, Part 1, rule 1.3
- Family Procedure Rules, Part 17, rules 17.2 and 17.6
- Practice Direction 17A, Statements of Truth, paras 2.1, 3.1 and 6
- Practice Direction 9A, Pre-Application Protocol, paras 3 and 32 to 34
- ICO: Data protection fee