The College of Law at Qatar University (QU) yesterday organised an event to announce the Legal Aid Conference.
The topic of legal aid was chosen, given its importance and its creative role, which makes it a means to reach the light of justice, to apply justice among litigants, and this is evident in legal aid for vulnerable groups in society.
Dr. Muna Al Marzouqi, Dean of the College of Law, Dr. Mohamed Matar, and faculty members of college which included Dr. Mohamed Y. Mattar, Head of Legal Skills Department and Clinical Professor of Law, Mr. Mohammed Alkaabi, Lecturer of Private Law and Prof. Duha Al Malki, Teaching Assistant in the Legal Skills Department attended the event.
Dr. Muna stated that the aim of the conference was to shed light on the legal aid system, by posing five problems related to its subject.
They include the concept of legal aid and whether it is limited to criminal cases or does it include civil and administrative issues and personal status, the rules that determine a person’s right to obtain legal aid, — is it advisable to include it in a comprehensive independent law or is the legislative framework limited to raising the issue in separate laws.
Also, who provides legal aid, if the lawyer is entrusted with doing this, what about legal aides, legal clinics and other elements in civil society; what is the body that regulates legal aid, determine who has the right to obtain it, and indicate the necessary procedures for this; and how can we face challenges in implementing the legal aid system, especially by reconciling traditional rules in the practice of the legal profession with international principles, expanding the provision of legal aid to vulnerable groups.
“The target audience for this conference is the United Nations offices and agencies operating in and outside Qatar, ministries, government agencies and institutions in Qatar, the Supreme Judicial Council and the Public Prosecution, private institutions of public interest, Qatar, experts, researchers and professors in the fields of law, sociology and social service, law schools in the country and abroad, law firms, students of law schools in Qatar and abroad,” Dr. Muna added.
