MP Proposes Insurance and Funding Scheme for Young Lawyers

A scheme to support Bahraini lawyers with insurance and early-career funding has been tabled by MP Hamad Al Doy, who says new graduates are finding it hard to gain a foothold in the profession.

Al Doy said the number of lawyers joining the field has risen, with many newly qualified graduates struggling to enter the job market, open their own offices, or secure legal roles in the public and private sectors. He added that many are working without professional cover or health insurance, despite the nature of legal practice.

The proposal calls for a national programme built around a support fund for Bahraini lawyers, to be created through cooperation between the Ministry of Justice and Islamic Affairs and the Labour Fund (Tamkeen). It would offer financial support for newly qualified lawyers in their first years, through grants or soft loans, alongside accredited training courses and help for small legal offices.

It also proposes state-backed health and professional insurance for officially registered lawyers through a nominal subscription, covering workplace incidents and legal liability.

Under the plan, government bodies and large institutions would be required to allocate a share of their annual legal work to contracts with smaller Bahraini law firms, as a means of supporting them financially and helping them gain experience.

The proposal also includes creating online platforms to link lawyers with clients and organisations seeking legal services, and reviewing certain requirements seen as barriers for new entrants, such as the length of training and the fees linked to opening offices.

Al Doy said the aim is to help young Bahrainis work as lawyers with dignity and independence, cut unemployment among law graduates, and improve the standard of legal services through training and support.