Foreign Qualified Lawyers
The Foreign Qualified Lawyers Committee was first established in 2020, by the Islamabad High Court Bar Association and is now reconstituted in 2023 by the new cabinet of IHCBA.The objective of the FQLC is facilitating enrollment at Islamabad Bar Council, enhancing capacity and fostering networking and knowledge exchange.
Why the Name "Foreign Qualified
Lawyers Committee?
In numerous legal jurisdictions,
foreign-educated lawyers are
permitted to practice law, subject to
specific conditions and often creates a
separate guidance for them to allow
them to practice in that
jurisdiction.Pakistan, including the
Islamabad Bar Council, upholds a
similar practice. The term "foreign
degree holders" is used by the
Islamabad Bar council referring to
individuals whose first law degree is
from outside Pakistan. These
individuals are allowed to enroll,
provided they meet certain criteria.
Why the Need for Representation for
Foreign Qualified Lawyers (FQL) at
the Islamabad Bar:
What distinguishes Pakistan from
other legal systems is the substantial
number of foreign law degree holders,
largely attributable to the popularity
of the University of London
International Programme.
Thisprogram produces approximately
600 graduates annually in Islamabad
alone. However, these FQLs
encounter obstacles during the
licensing process, primarily stemming
from varying degree verification
procedures. Their lack of familiarity
with preparation for additional exam
of HEC SEE coupled with insufficient
guidance, often deters them from
pursuing the license or results in
abandonment of their efforts. Among
those FQLs who do acquire licenses
and are eligible for Islamabad High
Court Bar Association (IHCBA)
membership mostly don’t pursue it.
Conversely, those who do engage are
often inactive. The necessity for
increased inclusivity aligns with the
broader interests of both the IHCBA
and the legal fraternity. Armed with
foreign law degrees, these lawyers are
authorized to practice Pakistani law
following enrollment. However, they
lack the comprehensive
understanding of
Pakistani law that domestic law
graduates possess. Thus, a program
for capacity building becomes
imperative.
Objectives of the Foreign Qualified
Lawyers Committee (FQLC)
The FQLC has three primary
objectives:
1. Facilitating enrollment at
Islamabad Bar Council: We aim to
provide support and guidance to
streamline the licensure process for
foreign qualified lawyers.
2. Enhancing Capacity: Our
committee seeks to bridge the
knowledge gap between foreign and
domestic law graduates, ensuring
parity in fundamental legal
understanding.
3. Fostering Networking and
Knowledge Exchange: By organizing
events and activities, we aspire to
create a platform where foreign
qualified lawyers can interact and
network with active bar members.
This exchange of knowledge and
experiences benefits all participants.
If you are a current or prospective
member of the Islamabad bar, kindly
fill out the following form.
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1
FAIpQLSeOylgjnxn-
UElAvlQmJx1FQ3Rx8R0e8IQzHQ0
MCA6LY9jaUA/viewform