More job opportunities have been urged for law graduates, with MPs calling on the government to localise legal consultancy roles to help unemployed citizens.
MP Hanan Mohammed Fardan has proposed an initiative, titled Future Consultants, which seeks to prepare Bahrainis for advisory roles in both the public and private sectors.
She called on the government to provide specialised training, mentorship and gradual placement for Bahraini graduates, ensuring they acquire the experience required for consultancy roles.
The proposal has received unanimous approval from a joint committee comprising the legislative and legal affairs and services committees.
Ms Fardan claimed that there was a ‘growing imbalance’ between the number of law graduates and the limited availability of specialised legal advisory roles.
“Hundreds of capable law students are graduating every year, yet too many remain unemployed or underemployed,” she said. “The Future Consultants project is designed to bridge the gap between academic qualifications and the real demands of the legal consultancy market.”
According to the National Audit Office 2023 report, the number of unemployed law graduates in Bahrain has exceeded 1,900 – a figure MPs described as ‘alarming’ for a sector considered vital to governance, justice and economic growth.
Ms Fardan said the success of the Future Judges programme provided a strong model for expanding structured professional pathways within the legal field.
“Just as the Future Judges initiative created a clear route into the judiciary, we now need a national framework to prepare qualified Bahraini legal consultants,” she said.
The Labour Ministry told the joint committee that it already works with Tamkeen and other entities to deliver legal training programmes, including the Lawyers Support Programme, which places trainees in licensed law firms with a monthly allowance of BD300 for up to two years.
However, MPs argued that these efforts should be consolidated under a unified national project focused specifically on legal consultancy.
“What we are proposing is not duplication, but co-ordination,” Ms Fardan said. “A clear, long-term plan that turns training into real jobs and makes Bahrainis the first choice for advisory positions.”
The Justice, Islamic Affairs and Endowments Ministry highlighted ongoing initiatives to develop specialised legal professions, while the Civil Service Commission reaffirmed that Bahraini candidates are prioritised in government recruitment, with strict conditions governing the hiring of expatriates.
Ms Fardan said her initiative would strengthen national expertise and reduce reliance on external consultants.
“Legal advice shapes policy, contracts and rights,” she said. “By investing in Bahraini consultants, we invest in the country’s legal sovereignty and future.”
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