DOHA: A special identity (ID) card being issued to practising lawyers by the Ministry of Justice promises to help protect their rights.
For example, on producing the card, a lawyer can’t be arrested, investigated or his office searched in connection with a court case he is representing. So far 119 practising lawyers, including expatriates, have been issued the ID, which must be produced in court as well.
Any assault on a lawyer holding this ID will be considered an attack on a member of Qatar’s judiciary. The card is being issued by a newly-established department at the ministry. The department has two wings. One is to register lawyers after they have been admitted to the bar by a lawyers’ committee at the ministry and look after lawyers and law firms’ affairs.
The other is to investigate a lawyer in case there is complaint against them for disciplinary action. This wing has the authority to file a lawsuit against such a lawyer. The department was set up vide Emiri Decision No. 25 of 2014 which called for restructuring the ministry. The decision also says that practising lawyers should be issued special ID cards.
The Peninsula
DOHA: A special identity (ID) card being issued to practising lawyers by the Ministry of Justice promises to help protect their rights.
For example, on producing the card, a lawyer can’t be arrested, investigated or his office searched in connection with a court case he is representing. So far 119 practising lawyers, including expatriates, have been issued the ID, which must be produced in court as well.
Any assault on a lawyer holding this ID will be considered an attack on a member of Qatar’s judiciary. The card is being issued by a newly-established department at the ministry. The department has two wings. One is to register lawyers after they have been admitted to the bar by a lawyers’ committee at the ministry and look after lawyers and law firms’ affairs.
The other is to investigate a lawyer in case there is complaint against them for disciplinary action. This wing has the authority to file a lawsuit against such a lawyer. The department was set up vide Emiri Decision No. 25 of 2014 which called for restructuring the ministry. The decision also says that practising lawyers should be issued special ID cards.
The Peninsula
