Represent Yourself In Court: Overview - GOV.UK

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1. Home
2. Crime, justice and the law
3. Courts, tribunals and appeals

Represent yourself in court Skip contents

Contents

1. Overview
2. Divorce and separation involving children
3. Divorce and separation: money and property
4. Represent yourself in a criminal court

Overview

You have the right to speak for yourself in court without a solicitor or other legal professional.

You may choose to do this because:

• you think it’s better to talk directly to the judge, jury or magistrates yourself
• you cannot afford to pay legal fees

If you’re considering representing yourself in a civil (non-criminal) case because you cannot afford legal costs, check if you can get legal aid instead.

This guide is also available in Welsh (Cymraeg).

Read Advicenow’s guides to going to court for advice on how to conduct your case.

There are different courts and rules in Scotland.

Someone with you in court

You may be allowed to have someone to help you in court by taking notes and giving advice, but they cannot:

• speak for you
• interfere with proceedings
• sign documents on your behalf

This person is known as a ‘McKenzie friend’.

The judge will decide whether you can have a McKenzie friend with you in court.

Read guidance on what a McKenzie friend can and cannot do.

If you need help communicating at your hearing

If you need help understanding or taking part in your hearing, you can ask for support from a communication specialist (known as an ‘intermediary’).

An intermediary can help by:

• advising the court or tribunal how best to communicate with you
• rephrasing questions for you
• making sure you understand what is happening

You can ask for support from an intermediary by email, post or in person at your hearing. Find out how to contact the court or tribunal.

Get legal advice

You can still get legal advice to help you with your case, even if you choose to represent yourself in court.

Find a solicitor.

Read advice on what you should consider before going to court for a debt, dispute or personal injury claim.

Next:Divorce and separation involving children View a printable version of the whole guide

Related content

• Legal aid
• Criminal courts
• Money and property when you divorce or separate
• Making child arrangements if you divorce or separate
• What to expect coming to a court or tribunal

Explore the topic

• Courts, tribunals and appeals

Elsewhere on the web

• Wikivorce - free divorce advice

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