Majed Garoub, chairman of the Saudi Legal Center for Training, said it is a must for law graduates to receive training in law offices, a process that is necessary for graduates to obtain permits to practice.
“The size of these offices is such that they cannot cater to the total number of students who graduate every year. There are no trainers to train them nor do these offices have training departments,” he said.
Garoub said that in order for law firms to improve, it is necessary that they provide training. He added that experience should be passed on to successive Saudi generations instead of continuing to rely on foreign experts.
He said that the law curriculum in universities is poor, out of sync with practical life and not of any benefit to students. He added that mock courts are often in the male sections and proceedings are transmitted to female students via camera, something that is not practical.
Speaking about work opportunities for women law graduates, Garoub said there are abundant jobs available.
“They can join the police or the Commission for Investigation and Public Prosecution. There is a general misconception regarding the law profession in the Kingdom. This is largely due to teaching methods in law colleges and Saudi society,” he added.
Commenting on why law firms are reluctant to take on trainees, law student Alaa Ashi said firms feel trainees will leak information on cases. “Practical training is vital in order to graduate and apply what we learn when studying,” she added.
Meanwhile, many women lawyers say they are unwelcome in court. Daniya Abu Al-Ela, a recently qualified lawyer, described the entire system as a mess.
“Women lawyers are not welcome in the Kingdom’s courts at all,” she said, adding that as a result she is forced to operate through male representative.
Yasmin Lanjawi, another woman lawyer, said training is important.
“All final year law students look for training placements during the summer vacations,” she said.
“Women lawyers usually specialize in commercial contracts and real estate and look forward to joining the Ministry of Foreign Affairs as legal consultants,” she added.
