Practising Law in Abu Dhabi

Abu Dhabi is the capital of United Arab Emirates. Abu Dhabi operated under the UAE Federal Court until 2007. After that, new legislation was passed which made Abu Dhabi a separate jurisdiction. Lawyers who want to practise in UAE need to have a license to practise. UAE Nationals are the Advocates allowed to appear in Abu Dhabi Courts. There are three categories of lawyers recognised under the federal law in Abu Dhabi:

1. Practising Lawyers

2. Non-Practising Lawyers

3. Lawyers in Training

Lawyers in Abu Dhabi must satisfy all federal requirements as well as the requirements of Abu Dhabi to be able to practice law in Abu Dhabi. In order to provide legal services in Abu Dhabi, it is essential that the lawyer is a practising lawyer. To become a practising lawyer, you need to:

1. He must be having UAE National.

2. Must be at least 21 Years of age.

3. Have a law degree from a known, accredited and recognised Law University.

4. Must be in continuous practical legal training.

Legal System:

The judicial system in the UAE has two systems, the federal judiciary, and the local government. The Federal Supreme Court presides over the federal judiciary. The federal legislation is the main judicial authority in the UAE. Abu Dhabi Judicial Department maintains its judicial department as per the Constitution, at the local level.

International Legal Consultants in Abu Dhabi:

The international law firms have their offices in Dubai as well as Abu Dhabi. Lawyers working in these firms get a diverse experience and get the opportunity to work with the best legal professionals from all over the world. But as we stated above UAE Nationals can appear in Abu Dhabi Courts. International Lawyers or Advocates can work as consultants.

Practising Litigation:

In order to practise litigation in Abu Dhabi, it is essential for a legal professional to have a good grasp of Arabic, as it is the official language used in the courts. Foreign lawyers can practise law in Abu Dhabi, but they cannot plead cases in court.

Formulation of New Laws and Amendments:

The constitution of the UAE came into effect in 1971. A lawyer practising in Abu Dhabi gets the opportunity to witness the formulation of new laws and amendments. This is beneficial for lawyers as they get the chance to identify legal issues and understand the mechanism behind the formulation of laws.

Size of Law Firms:

The size of law firms in Abu Dhabi is comparatively sufficient as compared to other countries and it is like other countries. Mostly the lawyers are Arab speakers and from different Arab Countries. UAE National Advocate can only appear in Court and open the Law Firm. A Law Firm with approximately 25-59 lawyers is usually considered a big Firm. However, sometimes it can be, a big legal platform having a large number of lawyers/legal consultants. Several Law Firms in Abu Dhabi also have offices in other Emirates like Dubai, Sharjah, Ajman etc. They are also working in a corporate collaboration.

It is seen that many Law Firms in Dubai and Law Firms in Abu Dhabi have offices in both Emirates and work with partners as well in business collaboration. This is usually an advantage for lawyers, especially the ones at the beginning of their career since they get the opportunity to work with senior lawyers. The interaction with senior and experienced professionals is a major advantage and gives the opportunity to develop skills that can prove fruitful in the long run. If you are in Abu Dhabi looking for a law firm, then you should know the prerequisites a lawyer should hold in the UAE.

Read More: Abu Dhabi Emirati Advocates – Must Book the Legal Appointment before getting any idea or taking any Legal Action.