Dubai, July 24, 2008 - Dubai Courts organised an Open House for students who are thinking about a career in law yesterday (Wednesday, July 23, 2008). A panel of education and legal experts introduced students to the current legal system in Dubai that supports the objectives of DSP 2015. The event was held under the patronage of the Knowledge and Human Development Authority and the University of St Joseph – Dubai, which will open in September.
The panel sat in a real courtroom at Dubai Courts to answer questions from students. On the panel was Dr. Abdulla Al Karam, Chairman of the Board of Directors and Director General of KHDA; Judge Mohammed Yousef, Chief Justice; Dr. Aida Azar, Associate Dean of the Faculty of Law, USJ, Beirut; Professor Antoine Hokayem, Vice-President for International Affairs, USJ, Beirut; Mohammed Al Muhairi, Senior Legal Advisor and Director - Department of Legal Strategy Affairs at The Executive Council; Aisha ِAl Tonaiji, Lawyer and owner of Eve Law Firm; and Halima al Marzouqi, Legal Advisor at DLP Piper International Law firm.
The audience included high school graduates and some college graduates who have applied to receive scholarships from EDAAD, one of KHDA’s projects, to study law at USJ-Dubai. The students had a tour in the court-house before attending a presentation by Dr. Yousef al Suwaidi about the work of the courts and the training programmes that it organizes for students year round, as well as the opportunities it offers law graduates.
The panel told the students about their personal and professional experiences within the education and legal systems. Dr. Abdulla al Karam was first to speak. After thanking the parties who organised the event, he said, “Safety, security, and justice are the main pillars of DSP 2015. At KHDA we work closely with The Executive Council and Dubai Courts to provide the qualified human resources that are capable of achieving this plan.
“We have succeeded in bringing USJ to Dubai, as it is one of the leading universities for law in the Arab world, to be the first block in building a solid legal system in Dubai. Our gathering today should benefit all of us, and it should become a method for private and public business to meet with students. We will work at KHDA to continue using this method with all other public and private business entities.”
Judge Mohammed Yousef, Chief Justice, said, “I work in the legal system because I have a passion for this profession, and I believe that those who aspire to join this field can achieve their dreams and ambitions through it. Here at Dubai Courts, we work on achieving the vision of HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al Maktoum, Prime Minister and Vice-President of UAE and Ruler of Dubai, which was announced on the second judicial forum and emphasised the need to enrol women in this system, as he would like to see more national women working in the legal system.”
He added, “We are about to appoint two female judges, and two prosecuting attorneys/ prosecutors. Our hopes are for the students to be the future professionals in this lively sector, and achieve the vision of His Highness.”
Lawyer Aisha al Tonaiji was cheered by the students when she announced how pleased she was to see so many young girls interested in this field, and pointed out that the legal system needs their contribution, as well as that of their male colleagues. She advised the student audience that law requires a lot of patience, wisdom, hard work, follow-up, and precision.
Legal advisor Halima al Marzouqi added that the legal profession is a humanitarian profession that seeks to achieve justice. This, she said, helps to establish a stable and secure society that can then have the opportunity to create, be creative, and give back to the world.
USJ-Dubai is supported by EDAAD, a scholarship programme launched by HH Mohammed bin Rashid al Maktoum in 2001. It is offering 40 scholarships to national students enrolling in USJ-Dubai and who will start their academic year this September.