JEDDAH, 8 June 2003 — News of the formation of a Saudi lawyers’ association has been met with a mixed reaction in Jeddah’s legal community.
Although widely anticipated, the announcement by the Ministry of Justice — and confirmation of a plan of action by Legal Profession Management at an Eastern Province symposium — confirmed for many that a legitimate, state-sponsored strategy was in place to raise awareness about the legal system and to protect the rights and interests of its members.
“This is a positive step that will give us more legitimacy and allow us to take a greater part in future reforms to the judicial system,” Abdul Rahman Al-Ghamdi, a criminal defense attorney, told Arab News. “For lawyers to have an association will allow for greater exchange of information among various members and concerning the types of law being practiced, thus better serving the judicial system and process.”
“News of this association has been floating about for some time,” another attorney, who asked to remain anonymous, told Arab News. “If it’s going to be allowed to operate successfully, then it must be allowed to operate in the same way as similar associations in Europe and America — without outside interference. I’ll await the official announcement from the Legal Profession Management that an outline and plan are in place before getting too excited. I hope a very thorough study will be done and the input of hundreds of members of the Saudi legal community will be taken. I know there will be questions that need to be answered and very serious hurdles will have to be overcome.”
A Saudi currently in a legal battle in the Kingdom told Arab News: “This association will probably improve the quality of the lawyers we will get. It sounds like a step in the right direction. Maybe it will allow for better quality control and improve the standard of lawyers and the quality of their work. An association would help the industry.”
Three months ago, a similar approval was given to the formation of a journalists’ association. That plan also received a lukewarm response and a great deal of skepticism among journalists. In the weeks since the announcement, however, a plan of action has been implemented and Saudi journalists will soon find themselves card-carrying members.
