SAUDI ARABIA – Saudi Arabia to allow female lawyers

SAUDI Arabia intends to allow local women to practice law in a departure from a long-standing policy of banning female lawyers due to social and religious constraints, a Saudi newspaper has reported.

 

The Saudi cabinet is expected to issue a law shortly permitting female university law graduates to be lawyers and appeal in court following the preparation of relevant legislation by the ministry of justice.

 

The London-based Arabic language daily quoted unnamed sources as saying 300 Saudi women would be granted licences to practice law soon.

 

The paper said some members of the committee, which drafted that law want female lawyers to be confined to personal issues at court, including marriage, divorce, custody and alimony while other members advocate full law practice.

 

“Giving women the right for full law practice is the likely option,” the paper said without mentioning a date for the approval of the law.