Al-Suwayan: AI is a tool to assist lawyers, not replace them

Kuwait officials, including the head of the Kuwait Bar Association, Dr. Khaled Al-Suwaidan, emphasized the importance of participating in the Gulf Lawyers Forum and the Sixth World Arbitration Conference in the Qatari capital, Doha, to enhance cooperation in the legal profession.

In a statement to KUNA on Tuesday, Al-Suwaidan said he led a delegation from the Kuwait Bar Association at the Gulf Lawyers Forum, organized by the Qatar Bar Association and held under the patronage and presence of Qatari Minister of Justice and Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs, Ibrahim Al-Muhannadi. The event marked the 20th anniversary of the founding of the Qatar Bar Association and featured participation from the heads and representatives of bar associations in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries.

Al-Suwaidan expressed his gratitude and appreciation to Qatar for honoring him by the Qatari Minister of Justice in recognition of his participation in this professional Gulf occasion, which brought together legal leaders to discuss ways to develop the legal profession and strengthen cooperation and integration among Gulf professional institutions.

He noted that he participated as a speaker in the first dialogue session, titled “Law Practice in Gulf Countries: Between Reality and Future: Towards a Shared Professional Vision,” alongside the heads of Gulf bar associations. He added that the session addressed the most significant transformations in the legal profession in Gulf countries, as well as legislative, economic, and technological developments and challenges related to the future of legal practice. It also highlighted the importance of enhancing professional cooperation and exchanging experiences among Gulf bar associations.

During the session, Al-Suwaidan stressed the importance of transitioning the role of bar associations from traditional professional frameworks to active partnership in developing legislation and the justice system. He pointed out that lawyers play a fundamental role in the practical application of the law, qualifying them to contribute to identifying procedural and legislative challenges and proposing measures that enhance litigation efficiency and protect the rights of litigants.

He explained that he presented the Kuwait Bar Association’s experience in developing the profession through successive stages of the “Lawyer’s Vision” project, along with initiatives related to digitizing litigation procedures, developing judicial services, professional training, and supporting modern legal specialties.

He also touched upon the importance of keeping pace with digital transformation and rapid developments in artificial intelligence technologies, emphasizing that AI is a supportive tool for lawyers, not a replacement. He stressed that leveraging technology must be coupled with preserving the independence of the profession, client confidentiality, and the professional and ethical responsibilities of lawyers.

Al-Suwaidan stressed the necessity of investing in the qualification of Gulf lawyers by developing training and specialized programs, exchanging experiences among professional institutes and centers, and enhancing cooperation in arbitration, mediation, and economic and commercial disputes. These efforts aim to improve lawyers’ efficiency and strengthen their competitiveness regionally and internationally.

He called for strengthening integration among bar associations in GCC countries and leveraging the role of the Gulf Lawyers Union in adopting joint professional initiatives and projects, moving beyond the exchange of experiences and recommendations to practical programs with clear objectives and measurable outcomes.

He affirmed that the future of Gulf law practice requires a shared professional vision based on developing legislation, enhancing safeguards for lawyers, continuous qualification, digital transformation, and developing law firms and professional practices to bolster the status of Gulf lawyers and their role in serving justice and economic development.

The opening of the forum saw the participation of Adnan Abul, head of the Gulf Lawyers Union, who emphasized the importance of joint institutional work and enhancing communication among Gulf bar associations.

Al-Suwaidan mentioned that the Kuwait Bar Association delegation

The Kuwaiti delegation also participated in the proceedings of the Sixth World Conference on International Arbitration, organized by the Qatar International Centre for Conciliation and Arbitration under the Qatar Chamber, held yesterday Tuesday and today Wednesday, under the patronage of the Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Qatar, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, with the theme “Alternative Dispute Resolution Mechanisms in a Changing World: From Judicial Oversight to Artificial Intelligence.” He noted that this participation reflects the Kuwait Bar Association’s commitment to strengthening its presence at international legal conferences and forums, keeping pace with the latest developments in the fields of arbitration, mediation, and dispute resolution, and leveraging international experiences and expertise to enhance legal practice.