Who is who in the courts?

• Solicitors or Barristers represent people who take their case to court.
• MacKenzie Friends is the name given to a lay adviser who helps someone who is not legally represented. They usually allowed to assist parties in the family court but are not allowed to speak to the court. MacKenzie Friends have a duty of confidentiality to the court.
• Judges and magistrates - resolve disputes relating to children and other family issues. Judges and magistrates who hear cases involving family disputes are specially chosen and receive specialist training.
• Magistrates' legal advisors - are specially qualified lawyers who manage hearings in the magistrates' courts, including the family proceedings court, and advise magistrates about law and procedure. Magistrates' legal advisors have limited powers to make decisions about the way cases are dealt with in the courts.
• CAFCASS officers - are qualified in social work and experienced in working with children and families. The welfare of children is always their chief concern. Children and Family Reporters assist the court in some cases where parents or others cannot agree about arrangements for children. Children's Guardians represent the child and assist the court in most cases where a children's services authority wants an order to protect the child from harm.
• Children and Family Reporters (CFRs) - assist with the work of the court through dispute resolution, reporting on the child's welfare and monitoring the outcome.
• Dispute Resolution - In cases where parents and others cannot agree about arrangements for children, the court may ask a Children and Family Reporter to meet with the parties to see if things can be sorted out without having to go on with the court case.
• Reporting - If no agreement is reached, the court may ask the Children and Family Reporter to make a report for the court about the children's welfare and the parents' plans. The report states what the CFR has done and makes recommendations to the court.
• Monitoring - when orders have been made the court may ask the CFR to check whether they are working.
• Children's Guardians - are appointed by the court to represent the rights and interests of children in cases that involve children's services authorities. They are independent of social services, courts and everyone else involved in the case. Children's Guardians appoint a solicitor for the child, advise the court about what information is required before the court makes its decisions and report to the court saying what they think would be best for the child. Children's Guardians spend time getting to know the children and members of their family. They talk to other people who know the family, such as relatives, teachers, social workers and health visitors. They attend meetings on behalf of the child, check records and read reports and statements. They may also recommend to the court that other professionals, such as a paediatrician or a psychologist, are asked to provide expert advice for the courts.