Lectures aim to make law simple

Series of talks will cover issues such as rent, labour and debt.

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DUBAI // The more baffling aspects of the law will be explained to the public in a series of lectures that begins this month.

The programme of 12 talks, hosted by the Dubai Judicial Institute, will cover topics including guardianship and custody, rent, labour and debt issues.

Other lectures will deal with terrorism cases, debtor imprisonment, travel bans, environmental laws and bribery.

Dr Jamal al Sumaiti, the institute's director, said the talks represented a first for Dubai.

"We are presenting these programmes to the public detailing the laws, amendments and systems related to them so that they can enhance their legal knowledge and be able to tackle legal problems that they deal with in their professional and personal lives.

"We are also rolling out other plans to enhance the public awareness, which will make this the largest project aimed at educating the public on how to deal with their legal issues."

Dr al Sumaiti said the institute, which provides training for judges, prosecutors, arbitrators, investigators and legal researchers, was increasing the number of courses it offered.

"In 2008 we concentrated on our infrastructure and programme build-up; in 2009 and 2010 we focused on offering government departments a diverse number of training courses and programmes: this year we would like to focus on expanding the public awareness and present lawyer-orientated courses," he said.

The institute also offers legal and judicial diplomas for qualified participants.

In 2010 the institute ran 79 diploma programmes and vocational courses for 1,645 people. Sixty per cent of its graduates were government employees, 16 per cent were judges, and the remaining participants were public prosecutors, lawyers and members of the public.