Dubai lawyers to require licences from next month

A resolution approved this week requires Dubai lawyers to be licensed by the Government for the first time.Local practitioners hope the licensing is a step towards developing a code of conduct and ethics for the emirate's lawyers. Conflicts of interest, shoddy advice and inappropriate fees are common problems in Dubai, lawyers say.

Licensing is "very good for the market", said Michael Lunjevich, a partner in Hadef & Partners. "There needs to be some real credibility for the legal market and this will help." Current law requires only firms to register with the Government, not individual lawyers. There are no set standards for training or qualifications that allow a lawyer to provide legal services. Under the new law, no individuals can provide legal services - including pleading cases, providing legal opinion and advice and drafting contracts - unless they are licensed by the Government of Dubai Legal Affairs Department. 

The resolution, which goes into effect on August 26, will add expense for legal practices. Firms must pay DH 3,000 (US$816) for each advocate or "legal consultant" on staff, plus Dh2,000 to register each lawyer. Their licenses must be renewed each year. Anyone found providing legal services without a license is subject to a DH 50,000 fine. Anyone failing to renew their license will face fines of Dh1,000 a day, with a maximum of DH 15,000 in the first month. A DH 5,000 fine will be imposed on any advocate not displaying the license in a "prominent" place in the firm's office