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: I had hired a lawyer for my divorce and unfortunately because of his incompetence my divorce is denied. The lawyer had failed to provide important proof that I gave him. I paid him already half of the AED 15 000, what should I do? How can I revoke the POA ( I don’t have the initial copy)?

Q: My lawyer in Abu Dhabi won much less than my settlement. My agreement with him was to get 10k if he wins the case; my settlement was 117k. He won 97k only and couldn't rectify an error in my judgment through appeal. I was a manager and the court confused my contract with another worker from the same company since we were a large group. I won 14k in compensation for leave and unlawful deduction. My cheque was ready 5 weeks ago, and knowing that I have a friend with POA since I am outside the UAE now, he ignored my calls and my messages. And today, I was told that they had the money transferred to their account and that I will only get 4k since they will hold my 10k, is that legal?

Q: Dear questioner, I have been cheated by a lawyer in Dubai. What is the procedure?

Q: I had a civil compensation case (road accident) with a law firm in Abu Dhabi in 2017. During the initial stage, they had sent an advocate fee agreement mentioning 15% of the collected money from the court by email, I have signed and sent it to them by courier. But, they failed to provide a signed copy to me and I also forgot to get the same due to my work pressure at that time. The court judgment and compensation money also came to the lawyer's account, and now my lawyer is asking for 20% advocate fees. I did not agree with the same. After a few days of this conversation, they verbally agreed to 15% fees and requested to send account details, and I sent my account details. They transferred money after deducting 20% advocate fees, I have sent many emails to release my remaining amount based on the 15% calculation, but they are not replying or responding to my emails. Currently, I am in India due to losing my job during the COVID situation. Please advise how to get my remaining money from them.

Q: My lawyer promised me that he will settle my case within a month but he did not settle it. Now it's 5 months and it is completed. He does not return the amount which I gave him to settle the case. The amount is AED 200000 he made me a fool for 1 month. He says tomorrow, next day... I will give you a cheque but he did not give me any cheque. What can we do? Please give advice

With over 3,000 licensed advocates and legal consultants in Dubai alone, you have a wealth of choices for legal assistance. But is this too much of a good thing? With so many choices, anyone looking for legal help in the UAE has a few significant hurdles to overcome.

Comparing the lawyer to the doctor is an old and common comparison, but its reflection on the social reality has not yet been completed, because many people still do not seek lawyers' assistance unless they are forced to. Although those people rush to doctors as soon as they feel any fatigue or deterioration in their health condition, or before making any decision that may affect their bodies, it is noticed that they do not do the same when it comes to their “community” health or their rights.

The provisions of this Law regulate the profession of lawyers in the UAE. Lawyers are those who practice the legal profession in view of providing judicial and legal assistance to whomever so requires.

This Ministerial Decision of Minister of Justice, Islamic Affairs and Endowments sets the implementing regulations of the Federal Law No. (23) of 1991 On the Regulation of the Legal Profession in the UAE. It abrogates Ministerial Decision No. (501) of 1992.