ABU DHABI // The Abu Dhabi Judicial Department is negotiating with lawyers to develop a free legal service for the poor to improve access to justice, officials said yesterday. Mohammed al Shatteri, assistant undersecretary for judicial support, said he wanted to form partnerships with lawyers' offices locally, regionally and internationally to set up the pro-bono service.
Mr Shatteri said they would "work on providing services with convenience and ease to needy customers". The department also announced plans to provide a free childcare service to customers and staff at its Mussafah Street building by the end of next March. Mr Shatteri said the ADJD found many mothers had been unable to go to its offices, so it decided to provide staff and customers with the service.
"ADJD will work with crèche administration experts to create babysitting facilities with the highest comfort and convenience, reflecting the department's desire to cater to the needs of the society in general and the mothers in particular. Twenty-two per cent of the department's workforce are women. Under the new plan, working mothers would be able to visit their children during the day to check they are being well looked after.
asafdar@thenational.ae
