The Legal Affairs Department Holds Advocates and Legal Consultants Code of Conduct Complaints Hearings via Videoconference

The Government of Dubai Legal Affairs Department has launched, through its smart channels, new procedures for conducting remotely hearings and investigations of complaints related to the registered advocates and legal consultants. This initiative is part of the precautionary measures taken by the UAE to protect public health and prevent the spread of the novel Corona Virus (Covid-19).

The Department is reviewing remotely all stages of the professional conduct complaints submitted to the Department by members of the public against the advocates and legal consultants registered with the Department. This begins with the receipt of the complaint, through the custom portal on the Department's website, or through the application available through smart phones. Consequently, the complaint is examined and reviewed by the Department's Professional Conduct Section, and a videoconference hearing with the parties to the complaint is held. Finally, the decision is sent to the parties.

His Excellency Dr. Lowai Mohamed Belhoul, Director General of the Government of Dubai Legal Affairs Department affirmed that the Department is keen to take all precautionary measures to safeguard the public health of both its employees and clients, while ensuring the continuity of its duties and role as stipulated in the law.

To this end, the Department has automated all the steps related to the professional conduct complaints including the submission of supporting documents, the defense of the respondents, and the revision of the complaint status electronically without the need to physically visit the Department's premises.

 The Department's establishing law requires it to regulate the advocacy and legal consultancy profession and monitoring the work of its practitioners. This includes examining the professional conduct complaints submitted by the public against the registered advocates and legal consultants and resolving them through the Department's Professional Conduct Committee, whose members include legal counsels with a judicial background in addition to one advocate registered with the Department. In the event of a decision to impose a disciplinary sanction, the respondent shall have the right to appeal against the such in accordance with the approved relevant procedures.


The Legal Affairs Department Holds Advocates and Legal Consultants Code of Conduct Complaints Hearings via Videoconference

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