A number of Qatari lawyers have criticised the ineffectiveness and weak performance of the Qatari Lawyers Association (QLA), according to a report published in local Arabic daily Arrayah.

Qatari Lawyer AbdulRahman al-Jufairi, former secretary of QLA, described its performance as “disappointing”.

“We used to have certain perspectives for the activities and functions of the nascent society in developing the profession of lawyers and co-operation with non-Qatari lawyers to attain the levels of similar associations in the region. However, we unfortunately were unable to achieve this. Personally, I believe that QLA is urgently in need of restructuring its formation and the way it conducts its activities,” he said.

He also indicated that lawyers do not prefer to join QLA due to its ineffectiveness.
The former QLA vice-chairman, Qatari lawyer Rashid al-Khalifa, pointed out that the association has deteriorated considerably lately due to the collective shortcomings of both the former and current board. He affirmed that the main trouble of the association is that it has no fixed headquarters and no invitation for a general assembly meeting have been made so far.

“In its first years, QLA managed to achieve some of its targets. Yet, as members of it, we have not felt any active role for it lately, whether in serving its members or the profession in general. We do not really know the reasons behind its incompetence,” said Qatari lawyer Yusuf al-Zaman.

He stressed that the association should focus its local efforts to develop the profession and resolve the related problems. For example, it has to spread legal culture among people.
Qatari lawyer Ahmed Abdulla al-Subaiai called for improving the current financial situation of QLA, suggesting that some of lawyers’ fees should be deducted for the QLA fund. He also called for state financial support for the association .

In the meantime, QLA chairman Rashid al-Nuaimi admitted that the deteriorating conditions of the association are the outcome of its lack of funds. He explained that the financial situation of QLA is “very bad” and it has no source of income to enable it to play an active role.
He said that for the association to perform effectively, some of the lawyers’ fees have to be deducted and the amount paid towards its fund.

QLA was established in 2005 to enhance communication between lawyers and the judiciary as well as the different sectors of the society. It also aims at organising the profession of lawyers and defend their rights.