Underscoring its commitment to develop the UAE’s next generation of legal professionals, the DIFC Academy of Law (AOL) has launched an annual Scholarship Programme for the country’s most promising law students. The first recipients are eight undergraduates from four law schools, with each awarded AED10,000 for tuition by the AOL, and a USD$500 award for textbooks from LexisNexis.

The winning students were selected from Ajman University, American University in the Emirates, University of Sharjah, and Saint Joseph University in Dubai. The Academy of Law’s Learning & Development Advisory Board, which comprises senior officials from AOL, the Government of Dubai Legal Affairs Department (LAD), LexisNexis, legal firm Stephenson Harwood, and DIFC Courts, deliberated over finalists and chose winners based on appropriate criteria.

Abed Ahmed Shaikh, a student from Saudi Arabia studying at the University of Sharjah, said: “I am hugely grateful to AOL and LexisNexis for awarding me this scholarship. These programmes are critical in providing people like myself with opportunities to continue pursuing education, and has motivated me to reach the top of the UAE’s legal sector. This award made my family proud and will help me to achieve my future goals, Insha’Allah.”

Each winning student demonstrated a strong Grade Point Average (GPA), clear commitment to advancing the global legal system, and requirement for financial support with their education. The winners for the 2017 Scholarship Programme includes five females and three males from a range of countries, including two UAE nationals.

David Gallo, Director, AOL, said: “The AOL is delighted to collaborate with LexisNexis on developing the ecosystem of legal education in the UAE in line with global standards. Ensuring students have access to world-class learning resources is a key undertaking of the Academy, and fundamental to our mission to create an international centre of legal excellence in the UAE. To achieve this goal, we are encouraging undergraduates to pursue jurisdictional knowledge in both civil and common law, using these scholarships as a platform to help broaden and hone their skills within these systems.”

The AOL will coordinate with the university faculty of each winning student to ensure that scholarship funds and the books fund are transferred for the academic year commencing September 2017.

HE Justice Shamlan Al Sawalehi of the DIFC Courts, added: “While this programme is about providing high-achieving undergraduates with access to the best education, it is also about ensuring they can benefit fully from the career opportunities offered by the UAE’s twin legal system. The teams at the AOL and the DIFC Courts will always be available to engage in discussions with students to help them as their careers progress.”

Hussain Hadi, Director, LexisNexis Middle East, said: “This partnership with the AOL reinforces our commitment to support and fill any gaps in legal education, as well as arming students with the research tools they need to be comparative lawyers. These individuals have earned their scholarships through hard work, dedication and passion, and LexisNexis is proud to help them along their journey to become successful lawyers that will help shape the UAE’s legal landscape over the coming years.”