Sheikh Sultan bin Ahmed bin Sultan Al Qasimi, Deputy Ruler of Sharjah and Chairman of the Judicial Council, attended the first Partners in Success Forum of the Lawyers and Legal Consultants Council, organised by the Judicial Department at the Sharjah Media City business centre, Shams.
The Chairman of the Judicial Council affirmed that lawyers and legal consultants represent a key partner in consolidating the justice system, and that their role extends beyond litigation and the defence of rights to contributing to the development of the legal environment and strengthening public confidence in the judiciary. He noted that the complementarity of roles among the various components of the judicial system constitutes the fundamental pillar for achieving effective justice.
He indicated that the Judicial Council continues to develop judicial services and procedures in line with best practices, raising operational efficiency and accelerating case completion, stressing that improving the experience of users and raising satisfaction levels is an ongoing priority through the adoption of developmental solutions and the utilisation of constructive proposals.
The Chairman of the Judicial Council explained that forums with lawyers and legal consultants represent an important platform for strengthening direct communication and listening to their views and observations, in support of evidence-based developmental decision-making.
He underscored the Judicial Council's commitment to continuing these meetings and translating proposals into initiatives that enhance justice and transparency and fulfil the aspirations of society.
For his part, Judge Dr Mohammed Obaid Al Kaabi, President of the Judicial Department, affirmed that lawyers and legal consultants are an integral partner in building a robust judicial system, commending their role in the application of law and the promotion of justice, and confirming the ongoing work to develop services and improve their professional experience.
Al Kaabi reviewed performance indicators over the past six months, noting that the total number of requests submitted reached 130,209, of which 8,397 were submitted by lawyers.
The number of completed requests stood at 115,476, representing a completion rate of 88.7%. The number of sessions held was 31,146, of which 29,596 were held remotely. In addition, 5,401 powers of attorney were registered, and the system recorded 227,691 users, including 1,803 lawyers.
The President of the Judicial Department affirmed that these figures reflect the volume of work and the integration of efforts, pointing to the department's commitment to developing electronic services, simplifying procedures, and listening to lawyers' observations in order to raise service quality.
He also referred to the results of the client satisfaction survey, in which the overall satisfaction average stood at 68.9%, service quality at 70.9%, and ease of use of electronic systems at 69.1%.
Judge Dr Saeed Bahbouh Al Naqbi, President of the Courts of Appeal and Chairman of the Committee for Regulating the Affairs of Lawyers and Legal Consultants, affirmed that the legal profession represents a noble calling and an integral partner in the justice system. He explained that the professional regulation statute has established a comprehensive framework for registration, licensing, and professional advancement according to clear standards that enhance the efficiency of legal practice.
Al Naqbi called on lawyers and legal consultants to complete their registration and licensing procedures, stressing the importance of sustained communication between the Judicial Department and practitioners to develop the legal environment.
The forum witnessed the launch of the Digital Advocacy Platform, which enables lawyers to manage their professional work and services. It includes the issuance of professional identity cards and the management of offices and branches, in addition to an AI assistant that helps complete services, review documents, calculate fees, and prepare applications.