JEDDAH — The Ministry of Justice has issued 250 licenses to Saudi lawyers so they can practice their profession in the Kingdom, local Arabic daily Al-Watan reported quoting sources at the ministry. The sources said the lawyers had submitted requests for the licenses about a year ago but authorities delayed issuing them because some of the applicants were under observation as they held “incorrect thoughts” which went against the ministry's rules and legal ethics. The sources said the ministry finally issued the licenses after correcting the devious thoughts some of them held. According to the sources, there are now 2,992 licensed lawyers in the Kingdom including a number of women. Mansour Al-Ghifari, the ministry's spokesman, said the new lawyers who applied for licenses from the ministry had to pass a number of tests before they were granted the licenses. “There is no delay in the process. Whenever the applications are completed, they will be forwarded to the registration committee which will review them and issue licenses,” the spokesman said. He said those who were denied licenses can appeal the verdict before an administrative court. — SG
