If Abdulhakim Binherz has any advice for young lawyers in the UAE, it is that they should read more. The Emirati lawyer, who opened his eponymous firm, Abdulhakim Binherz Advocates and Legal Consultants, last year, spent the previous 33 years working at Emirates NBD, serving as general counsel for the group for 14 years.
“Any young UAE national who wants to study law needs to be patient and understand that practical life is different from school. Also, be prepared to read a lot. They should know previous cases and show a willingness to learn,” advises the successful lawyer, who was responsible for leading the merger between Emirates Bank and National Bank of Dubai. Reading is important on both a personal and professional level, Binherz continues. “It is important to keep your brain active, engaged and updated with what is happening around you and across the globe,” he says. “Reading also releases stress and improves your vocabulary and analytical thinking skills, and rests your brain after a day spent looking at a computer screen. It is the way forward for better health and the enhancement of knowledge and skills.”
The 48 Laws of Power, by Robert Greene
It contains many important life lessons on how to use power for your own benefit.
How to Win Friends and Influence People, by Dale Carnegie
No matter what business you are in, this book will offer you guidance on how to influence others.
The Power of Now: A Guide to Spiritual Enlightenment, by Eckhart Tolle
This helps to train the brain to develop compassion and alleviate depression.
Rubaiyat Alkhayam, written by Omar Khayyam, translated into Arabic by Ahmed Rami
This book shows how you can enjoy life and benefit from every happy moment.
Crime and Punishment, by Fyodor Dostoyevsky
“This novel addresses the issue of good versus evil, from the perspective of a criminal who committed a crime as a solution to unresolved humanitarian and social issues.”
