Simon Walland
McKenzie Friend Simon Walland is one of the guests featured in the McKenzie Friend Guide, a growing directory of interviews with McKenzie Friends, solicitors, barristers, and other professionals supporting families through the court system.
McKenzie Friend Simon Walland: from father in the family courts to McKenzie Friend
Simon’s own introduction to the family courts began 25 years ago, as a father navigating a children case without any support or knowledge of the process. That experience — going into court alone, unsure what he could even ask for — later became the reason he started helping other parents facing the same situation. He went on to qualify as a barrister, though he no longer practises in that capacity, and has worked as a McKenzie Friend for many years.
“A genuinely good McKenzie Friend isn’t there for the money — they’re there to help people.” — Simon Walland
Training the next generation of McKenzie Friends
In 2013, Simon began training other McKenzie Friends, running face-to-face courses in London and Manchester before moving his teaching online during the pandemic. Today he offers a hybrid model combining structured course content with live monthly sessions, covering topics such as cross-examination, negotiation, and dealing with false allegations — alongside his ongoing casework, which regularly includes hearings such as financial remedy and children matters.
Simon is a strong advocate for realistic, judge-focused case preparation — helping clients understand not just their own argument, but how a judge is actually likely to weigh it.
“Family law is hugely about common sense. If something doesn’t add up, it’s probably not true.” — Simon Walland
He continues to take on select cases directly, while increasingly focusing on mentoring and training the next generation of McKenzie Friends.
About Simon Walland
- Website: www.simon-walland-family-law.co.uk
- Phone: 07900 414121
- Email: info@simon-walland-family-law.co.uk
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/simon-walland-family-law/
Watch the full interview
Listener feedback
After the interview was published, the episode received positive public comments from listeners. The feedback highlighted the value of a thoughtful and balanced discussion about McKenzie Friends, ethical support, preparation, and helping parents understand their family court case more clearly.
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