Dubai Land Department leads initiative to launch 'pro bono' free legal services for real estate cases

The Department emerged from the meeting with an agreement from the professional firms to become part of a new Legal Care Group.

Under the umbrella of the Department the group of volunteers will bring together senior lawyers, professional firms and consultants to offer free legal assistance. This will be available to members of the public with genuine real estate issues who might otherwise be dissuaded from having recourse to the law because of the prohibitive cost of fees.

Mohammed Sultan Thani, Assistant Director General of the Dubai Land Department, said:

"The objective of this initiative is not merely to meet a need but to ensure fairness and justice is available to anyone who might have a concern which involves property, no matter their circumstances. This reflects the Government's commitment to ensuring there is in place a comprehensive equitable system of legalizing ownership and property transactions."

Mohammed Sultan Thani added, "Now, no one is prevented from pursuing their rights merely because of the possibility they might be priced out of the legal system. The professionals who attended the meeting were extremely positive about this initiative and are being very generous in committing themselves to it and in volunteering their time."

"As professionals they recognize their responsibility to the wider interests of the community and to ensuring that it is not merely perceived as fair but that in actual fact it acts in a way which is fair to everyone," he stated.

Last week's meeting was attended by representatives of leading national and international law firms, including Al Tamimi, Norton Rose, Trowers and Hamlins, Lawyerpoint, Clyde and Co, Afridi and Angell and Hadef Al Daheri and Associates. The committee members finalized agreement on the structure of the group, the services it will provide and its relationship with the Land Department. The move brings the local system in line with 'pro bono' services arrangements available in territories such as parts of Europe and North America.

Mr. Emad Eldin Farouq, the Land Department's Senior Legal Counsel, said, "Lawyers are by the nature of their profession committed to serving justice and to protecting rights irrespective of the interests ranged against them. This initiative by this group of lawyers reflects that commitment and their bigger responsibility to ensuring there is justice and stability in the community."

"Dubai has given all of us as lawyers a great deal, including the opportunity to practise our profession. We were all agreed it was essential to get this initiative up and running and that it offers each of the opportunity to return something back to the community which continues to offer us so much," he added.