Q: Hi, I have approached a lawyer because they promised to solve my case in a weeks time. I went and paid the fees on 9th of July and got 3 copies attested from Dubai courts and submitted all. I have been hearing from them that they will do it today, tomorrow and it's been nearly a month and case manager is just telling "today, tomorrow". I have lost trust and hopes. I approached them for a solution and they promised it within a week, not in 3 weeks, and they have not even sent the legal notice. Please advise what should I do?

Q: I am an expat living in Dubai. Can I file a civil case and represent myself in Dubai Courts personally, without a local lawyer?

Q: Is there an Abu Dhabi Justice Department office to get a lawyer who has been hired to respond to client's questions? I paid a law firm 50% of their fee in May 2016. My case was to be heard by the Cassation court on 20 Nov, then postponed to 28 Nov. Attorney has not advised me of the results and now does not reply to email or phone calls. I am in the USA.

Q: Dear Sirs, I have a long story but I will give you the "bottom line". I won a case with the Ministry of Labor (MOL) in December 2015. The company did not accept the MOL decision (Company owed me three months salary for early termination of a two-year contract). I went to the court and won. The company appealed and had the verdict overturned. I hired a lawyer in May 2016 and my case was to be heard by Cassation Court in November 2016. I have never heard the outcome and now the law firm does not reply to my email or my phone calls. I am now in the USA but I will come to the UAE as needed. Thank you. John Stickel, Springfield, VA.

س: تزيد مطالبتي على 150 ألف درهم مقابل الرواتب غير المدفوعة ومستحقات نهاية الخدمة. هل يجب عليّ تعيين محامٍ مواطن؟ أم أن هذا الأمر ليس ضروريًا في القضايا العمالية؟

س: مرحبًا، لدي قضية معلقة في محكمة دبي بخصوص سداد القرض الخاص بي، حيث قمت بتعيين محامٍ ولكني غير راضٍ عن عمله. هل يمكنني تغيير المحامي؟ هل ستكون هناك أي مشكلة إذا قمت بذلك؟ هل يجب علي دفع الرسوم المتبقية؟

Q: Dear Sir/Madam, I had an accident and was diagnosed with a spine fracture. A lawyer came to me, and I don't know where he got my number from. I needed to give him a power of attorney (POA) while I was on my sick bed, because he said he could not proceed with my case without it. Fast forward, a judgment was passed in my favor, but he never told me. He would never call me, and if I called or texted him for updates, he wouldn't reply. He later went for an appeal without my knowledge. Now, the case has been in execution for the past two months, and he is still refusing to pick up my calls for updates or any information on my case. He has not been transparent or fair with my case. I called their office line today, and the administrator said they have finished with my case, so the lawyer is supposed to do what is expected of him. Please, which are the proper authorities to report this lawyer to? He is really taking advantage of my patience and the POA in his hands.

تشبيه المحامي بالطبيب هو تشبيه قديم شائع، إلا أن انعكاسه على الواقع المجتمعي لم يكتمل بعد، إذ ما زال كثير من الناس لا يلجؤون إلى المحامين إلا اضطراراً. فمع أن هؤلاء الناس يهرعون إلى الأطباء فور الشعور بأي تلبك أو تردٍ لحالتهم الصحية، أو قبل اتخاذ أي قرار قد يؤثر بأجسادهم، يُلاحظ أنهم لا يفعلون المثل متى تعلق الأمر بصحتهم "المجتمعية" أو بحقوقهم، وهذا ما يقودهم في كثير من الأحيان إلى عواقب غير حميدة تتمثل في دعاوى معقدة، وقضايا مكلفة، وخسائر مالية تؤثر على حياتهم بأكملها.

The law promulgates UAE Civil Procedures Code (Civil Procedure Law) which governs civil procedures in the United Arab Emirates, including the prosecution before the courts, litigation and execution.