The Law Clinic at Qatar University is now providing free legal aid to the vulnerable sections, especially expatriate workers. It takes cases of people who are unable to afford to hire a lawyer and help them, said Dean of Qatar University’s Law College.
Cases that are accepted by the Law Clinic are referred to licensed lawyers whom are working with some of the leading law firms in the country. Students at the Law College work closely with the lawyers in the cases, said Dr Mohammed Bin Abdulaziz Al-Khulaifi, Dean of College of Law Qatar University.
Anyone who cannot afford to hire a lawyer could send an email to the lawclinic@qu.edu.qa or visit the Law Clinic office located within the Qatar University premises.
“One of the main objectives of establishing a Law Clinic is to provide pro bono services, these services mostly provided for workers and to people who are really able to hire a lawyer for consultation, settle a problem or follow cases at court. Qatar University is in collaboration with many officially licensed Qatari lawyers and our students are working closely with them in finding solutions to those who seek help from us,” Dr Al-Khulaifi told The Peninsula.
Pro bono services is denoting work undertaken for the public good without a fee, especially legal work for a client with a low income.
The number of cases handled by the Law Clinic has increased from two to 20 since the last semester.
“The clinic in this semester received almost 20 cases from different people and workers for consultation, this would increase in future. We are trying really to spread the idea of pro bono services, because its highly needed, especially for people who cannot afford to pay a fee,” said Dr Al-Khulaifi.
Although the Law Clinic was practiced in the last three years, it was officially established as a academic entity last year.
“The Law Clinic is a college academic entity that provides our students with a substantial practice and get experience. Here they are basically going to work closely with partitioning lawyers in the country and deal with cases under supervision. They are basically doing the lawyering work, while they are in the university,” said Dr Al-Khulaifi.
The Law Clinic also carrying out legal projects in legislative drafting and legal reform and Raising awareness about legal rights through a street law program.
While, the Law College at Qatar University has a unique curriculum with a combination of Latin legal system and the common law legal system and offers a wide selection of courses to students. Its curriculum has been accredited by the supreme council of education and research in France and the British accreditation council.
The Law College at Qatar University at present has 1400 students enrolled and 60 faculty members.
