Abstract:
Traditional legal systems and Bedouin laws in Middle Eastern polyethnic societies formed part of a functioning and coherent totality of Middle Eastern way of life. Legal representation was not necessary in traditional adjudications because the parties to any dispute were required to appear in person to present their case. Colonization changed this state of affairs significantly. It introduced formal legal education and compounded Middle Eastern’s plural legal systems. Middle Eastern legal education progressed dramatically immediately after independence. Many new countries in the Middle East began establishing law faculties.
Over the past few months, many colleges of law in the Middle East moved to virtual lectures. Nevertheless the stigma lingers on online learning due to misconceptions regarding its rigorous nature, inability to fully replicate the in-person environment, and the technological barriers among other things.
The paper provides a broad framework for understanding the development and needs of Middle Eastern legal education and suggests reforming Middle Eastern law faculties. Section II traces the historical development of Middle Eastern legal education. Section III examines the curricula at select Middle Eastern universities. Section IV seeks to identify the challenges colleges of law face by introducing online courses. The paper then offers a survey of the strengths, weaknesses, and needs of Middle Eastern legal education. To do this, the paper considers the global demands and local realities, challenges, needs, and aspirations. Section V analyzes the need for curricula reform and makes specific suggestions for implementing reform. Section VI provides sets of conclusions.
Speaker:
Prof. Bashar H. Malkawi, Dean, Professor of Law, University of Sharjah, United Arab Emirates
Bashar H. Malkawi is Dean and Professor of Law at University of Sharjah. He received his S.J.D from American University, Washington College of Law, and LLM in International Trade Law from University of Arizona. He is well-versed in teaching and providing legal advice with 20+ years; experience in private and public sectors.
Prof. Malkawi is a prolific scholar, whose work covers a variety of subjects, but with strong emphasis on the World Trade Organization, regional trade agreements, and business law (broadly conceived). He has written over seventy articles for law reviews and professional publications, which have appeared in such top-tier journals as Journal of World Trade, Harvard Negotiation Law Review, American Journal of Comparative Law, and Journal of World Intellectual Property. Prof. Malkawi is author, co-author, or chapter contributor of numerous books. In addition to law articles and academic books, his op-eds and other writings have been featured in the popular press in the U.S. and the Middle East. Prof. Malkawi is regular speaker in international academic and professional events. Many of his research papers and publications have been cited extensively.
Prof. Malkawi has received numerous awards for his work. In addition to his scholarship, Prof. Malkawi frequently consults for a wide array of international organizations, governments, and international law firms.