New Legal Consultancy Regulations in the UAE

Advocacy and legal consultancy is a promising career in UAE. It offers financial stability and career boost to individuals engaging in the Legal profession. A serious profession helps the legal professionals to earn a handsome amount of money. Earlier in January 2023, the UAE took a historic move towards formally regulating legal consultancy and advocacy in the United Arab Emirates. Federal decree law No. 34 of 2022 legalized the licensed legal consultants and lawyers in the UAE.

The UAE cabinet issued an executive regulation in March 2025 to contemplate this federal law. The main intent was to strengthen the licensing, training, ethics, and practice standards. This landmark reform has created new pathways for legal consultancy and advocacy in the UAE. The core objective is to integrate the in-house counsel with the cohesive large framework. It preserves the exclusive courts and advocacy rights of licensed lawyers in Dubai and across the UAE.

It set pre-established boundaries for practitioners in the legal landscape. It sets limitations for consulting roles and introduces compulsory accreditations. It also codifies the ethical duties of the legal professional in the UAE further improving the credibility of the profession. The skilled attorneys in Dubai can be crucial in navigating through this new legal landscape. Federal Decree-Law No. 34 in 2022 has opened a new era offering a clear distinction. It states that advocates the licensed lawyers in Dubai. They offer the court representation rights.

Conversely, legal consultants in Dubai are also licensed individuals who provide advisory services to clients. The legal consultants do not have access to the court proceedings and they do not offer court representation to the clients. The federal law includes in-house lawyers in Dubai. They should register the non-practicing advocates and consultants. Legal consultants in Dubai cannot independently appear in the court.

The new reforms in the March 2025 Executive Regulations have offered thorough implementation steps that include the defined paths for foreign law firms, legal consultants, and legal researchers. Besides, it also established the education, licensing, and continuous professional legal development (CPLD) requirements. It also restricts the in-house lawyers from holding roles in multiple firms or non-professional entities. It is done to avoid a conflict of interest.

It also regulates confidentiality, client communication, fee structures, and retainer agreements. It also provides the registration of temporary visiting lawyers in court cases. These regulations have reflected the growth in legal professionals that has promoted sophistication and advancements in technology and innovation. In addition, these regulations have linked the legal services to the global best practices.

Lawyers in Dubai must pass a written examination and to obtain license.  The lawyers in Dubai qualify to represent the clients before the court. They attend court hearings; make court appeals, sign pleadings, and bill on contingency.

• Legal Consultants: Legal Consultants are now categorized as non-practicing individuals. They can offer legal advice within their organization. However, they cannot act independently before the courts.

The lawyers must attend the renewal courses, training sessions, and seminars, to renew their licenses in UAE. Moreover, ethics and confidentiality are focused on the law. This empowers the professional standard and makes sure there is sustainability in the competency of lawyers.

This new legal consultancy regulation has reflected a major leap towards regulating the legal profession in USE. This improves transparency, accountability and ethical governance. It also invites global collaboration. It offers credibility to the legal profession and offers great precision and clarity on legal roles.