RIYADH: An advisor to the Ministry of Justice has said that licenses have been granted to female lawyers for the first time in the Kingdom. Al-Hayat Arabic daily reported Ali Al-Dabyan as saying that the ministry had issued “a number of official licenses to women lawyers” and will conduct a “trial evaluation”. According to Al-Dabyan, focus in its evaluation will be on “the level of acceptance for the move from Saudi society” and that depending on that view the measure could be reviewed or halted. “The ministry is supportive of the presence of Saudi women lawyers as long as the practice is conducted well and positively,” Al-Dabyan said. “If there is improper practice the ministry will take another look.” Speaking following a training course in Riyadh Wednesday, he said that the number of women lawyers is dependent on two factors: availability of training and acceptance from society. “Saudi society has its own special nature and structural make-up, and it's important to avoid inducing error,” he said. Muhammad Al-Issa, Minister of Justice, has previously said that the ministry was considering permitting women to practice as lawyers in the country's courts.
