UAE lawyer vs Legal Advisor: know the difference

UAE lawyer vs Legal Advisor: know the difference

One may have come across various terms describing a legal expert, including lawyer and legal advisor, sometimes even used interchangeably. However, each term has a distinct meaning, and individuals serving as legal advisors or lawyers, have specific roles assigned to them.

Lawyer

A lawyer is generally an umbrella term used to denote individuals with legal expertise, providing a legal service. This includes providing legal advice, drafting contracts, reviewing agreements, or representing clients in a court of law.

When a lawyer has the power of representation in a court, he is called an advocate. In the UAE, an advocate must fulfill certain criteria and must obtain a license to practice before the UAE courts. Only UAE citizens who have graduated from an institution recognized by the competent authority in the Emirate or the UAE can obtain an advocate’s license. Additionally, individuals must be of legal capacity and of good conduct, must pass the required training, must be employed in an advocacy firm and must not practice any other commercial or professional activity in addition to his/her work within the firm except for teaching or training in a specific field of law or legal practice.

Legal advisor

A legal advisor is a lawyer who provides legal consultation, without representing the client in the court of law. In the UAE, legal advisors are referred to as legal consultants. Legal consultants may advice clients, draft and review agreements and even assist in drafting statements to be submitted to the court. However, they may not represent clients in a court of law.

A legal consultant is also required to be licensed to carry out consultation and related activities in the UAE. To obtain a legal consultant license, applicants must submit an application through the Legal Profession System (LPS) Portal. They must have the required educational qualification from an institution recognized by the competent authority. They must also have a prescribed number of years of experience in the legal field, as prescribed by law. 

Although legal consultants do not have the right of audience before the UAE local courts, they continue to hold a significant position in the UAE legal landscape. They serve as a preliminary point of contact for their clients, explaining the law in detail. They also assist the advocate in drafting and the preparation of appeal.

In conclusion, a lawyer who is licensed to appear before a court of law is referred to as an advocate, while a lawyer who is licensed to provide legal advice, without the power to appear before a court is called a legal consultant. The UAE issues separate licenses to UAE lawyers and legal consultants if they fulfill the required criteria.