The ability to see beyond the ordinary is what segregates a leader from the others and Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince, Mohammad bin Salman, with his continuous efforts has certainly raised the bar.
Saudi Arabia, which will soon allow its women to drive, is seeing a tremendous growth of women’s contribution in almost every field. Also, the increase in the number of women lawyers in the past few years has positively highlighted about the progressive image of country.
The Saudi Ministry of justice recently issued figures showcasing a steady progress in the number of women lawyers in the kingdom. According to Ministry’s stats, the number of women officially licensed in 2013 was only 10, however 221 women have now been officially registered with ministry and are successfully representing clients in the nation’s courts.
This upsurge in numbers comes as conscious effort of Ministry, who have continuously encouraged women to take up this profession. Besides, the number of legal practices granted in year 2017 also shows an increase of 34 percent from the year 2016, with an expectation to multiply in the coming years.
Further, the ministry revealed that it had issued 1998 licenses for legal practices since the beginning of 2015, out of which 45 percent were issued in the year 2016 alone. Calculating the number reveals a staggering 775 licenses, out of which 692 were issued to the males, while the remaining 83 to the female of Kingdom.
The winds of change in Saudi Arabia come as a part of its vision, which states diversification of economy to lessen its dependency on oil.
The Ministry therefore keeping the goal in mind has also optimized it process and soften bureaucracy in favor of individuals and businesses. The establishment of specialized courts also comes as a part of its ongoing reforms, which now involves legal practitioners with niche skill sets. Further, with the Completion degree of law and frequent professional training for 3 years, the candidates obtain a practice license from the ministry, allowing them to represent clients in the courts of Saudi Arabia.
Clearly, the concept to empower women is taking Saudi Arabia to new heights, where law as a practice helps them feel independent and learn broadly about their rights.
