Ethics code is first step in legal reform

News of a planned code of ethics for lawyers is a welcome indication that the practice of law in the UAE is continuing to mature.

For many of us, lawyers rank just behind doctors among the professionals we rely upon to know their business, act prudently and care responsibly for our interests.

So it may be surprising to some that until now UAE lawyers have not had a code of ethics. And it will be good news that such a code to govern lawyers' conduct is now forthcoming. Dr Hadef Al Dhaheri, the UAE Minister of Justice, made the announcement on Tuesday at the annual conference of the International Bar Association, which is being held in Dubai.

The legal profession is evolving rapidly in the UAE. As in other areas of society, the practice of law must respect national history and culture but also be open to the needs of a diverse population and international investors. Just this week, for example, the Dubai Government widened access to the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) Courts. By prior agreement, any commercial contract in dispute in Dubai will now be eligible for consideration in DIFC court.

As part of the growth of the UAE, foreign law firms have come into the country in significant numbers over the last decade. Ease of registration has facilitated that process but has also contributed to what The National's columnist Diana Hamade recently referred to as a "free-for-all" and has left some local practitioners complaining that too many lawyers here do not know local law. While only UAE-licensed lawyers can argue in local courts, some countries require foreign firms to have local legal practitioners on staff.

Whatever other measures may prove necessary, clearly the code of ethics announced by Dr Al Dhaheri is intended to begin the development of regulations that are needed to catch up with the recent rapid growth of the legal environment.

In most countries lawyers themselves provide the first line of defence for their own reputations and the interests of the public; a client who finds himself in a dispute with his lawyer can complain to the local bar association. If the client remains dissatisfied, other steps are possible.

A code of ethics, in other words, is necessary but not sufficient. Government, legal firms and individual lawyers are now starting the process of developing a mature regulatory system.