Lawyer and legal counsel jobs in the UAE
Lawyer, legal counsel and paralegal jobs in the UAE, in-house and in law firms.
34 jobs
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Senior Managing Counsel, Regulatory EEMEA
Mastercard
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Paralegal
JLL
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Legal Researcher - Cases & Grievance
Roads and Transport Authority
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Chief Specialist - Legal Legislations & Studies
Roads and Transport Authority
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Legal Specialist - Government Affairs UAE National
Baker Hughes
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Junior Legal Counsel
CPX Holding L.L.C O.P.C
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Legal Advisor
Department Of Finance
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Lead Specialist – Legal
Dubai Government
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Chief Specialist - Legal Affairs
Roads and Transport Authority
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Senior Attorney
Honeywell
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Senior Legal Officer - General Legal Support Affairs
The Government of Dubai Legal Affairs Department
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Financial Collection Officer – Advocates and Legal Consultants Affairs
The Government of Dubai Legal Affairs Department
About the role: Lawyer and legal counsel
Lawyers, legal counsel and paralegals advise organisations on their rights and obligations, draft and negotiate contracts, manage disputes and keep the business compliant with the law. Roles exist both in law firms and in-house in legal departments.
The UAE has two kinds of legal system side by side. Onshore, federal and emirate laws apply, based on civil law, with Arabic as the language of the courts; rights of audience before these courts are generally reserved for UAE national advocates, while foreign lawyers usually work as licensed legal consultants. The financial free zones DIFC in Dubai and ADGM in Abu Dhabi have their own common-law courts and frameworks, which attract many English and Commonwealth-qualified lawyers.
In-house legal teams are found in developers and contractors, energy companies, airlines, technology firms, healthcare groups and government entities. Construction, real estate, corporate, employment and dispute resolution are common practice areas, and arbitration plays an important role in commercial disputes.
Main responsibilities
- Draft, review and negotiate contracts
- Advise management on legal risks
- Manage litigation and arbitration with external counsel
- Handle corporate matters and company records
- Monitor regulatory changes
Skills employers look for
- Qualification in a recognised jurisdiction
- Knowledge of UAE onshore law and/or DIFC and ADGM
- Commercial contract drafting
- Legal Arabic, essential for many onshore roles
- Clear, practical advice
Qualifications in the UAE
Licensing depends on where you practise: onshore, legal consultants need a licence from the competent federal or emirate-level authority, while DIFC and ADGM courts maintain their own registers of practitioners. Paralegal roles usually require a law degree and good Arabic and English.