Qatar: new regulations for legal profession
Qatar has introduced three regulatory decisions aimed at strengthening professional standards, licensing requirements and oversight of the legal profession. The measures establish examinations for applicants seeking entry to the practising lawyers’ register, with tests administered quarterly, a minimum passing score of 50 percent and defined procedures for retaking examinations and resubmitting applications. New requirements for non-Qatari lawyers representing Qatari law firms before judicial authorities include a recognized law degree, at least seven years of professional experience, a good professional record, an interview and prescribed examinations, with exceptions possible in the public interest. The regulations also establish a dedicated register to track non-Qatari lawyers’ licensing status and related disciplinary or administrative decisions, and set limits on the number of non-Qatari lawyers permitted to work with firms based on the courts in which they are authorized to practice. Additional rules govern law firms’ websites, requiring appropriate naming, accurate and relevant content, and compliance with cybersecurity requirements, while prohibiting online activity that encourages litigation.