Saudi Arabia has opened the first ever female law firm founded and run by female lawyers two months after the first four women were given the right to practice law in the country, according to RT.com.
The three women: Bayan Zahran, Jihan Qurban, Sarra Al Omari and Ameera Quqani were granted permission to began practiving law as the first female legal represenatatives in Saudi Arabia this past October removing a traditional ban which prohibited female law graduates to practice, RT.com reported. The move has now given the women the right to change their working status from legal consultant to attorney.
In the initial steps of removing the ban, the justice ministry had planned to allow women to practice only on family cases, but the final decision did not limit the fields of practice, according to RT.com..
The same steps must be taken by women and men to practice law in Saudi Arabia: both must attend a university and obtain a law degree as well as three years of outside training, RT.com reported.
Zahran, the first women lawyer to launch a female firm in Jeddah said this move will allow Saudi women to seek legal advice and feel more confident their interests are being protected, RT.com reported.
Zahran told Arab News the new firm "is ready to fight for the rights of Saudi women and relate women's cases to the court," something she thinks male attorney's have difficulty doing because of their lack of understanding of the Saudi women, RT.com reported.
"I believe women lawyers can contribute a lot to the legal system. This law firm will make a difference in the history of court cases and female disputes in the Kingdom. I am very hopeful and thank everyone who supported me in taking this historical step," Zahran told Arab News, according to RT.com. She added the firm will not discriminate either gender and will take on disputes by men, as well.
"Our activity is not restricted to cases involving only women. Saudi Arabia's legal system treats men and women equally and a lawyer has the right to represent men and women," Zahran told Al Arabiya News Channel, RT.com reported.
Mazen Batterjee, vice president of Jeddah Chamber of Commerce, attended the launch of the firm and stated female attorneys should uphold the Shariah law in Saudi courts and should follow all rules of hijab when in court, according to RT.com.
In the country where a women needs a male "guardian" to make most of the important decisions for her, and where the women's role is primarily kept within the household, Zahran hopes more girls will aspire to a career in law, RT.com reported.
"This is a very positive step toward the Saudi court and justices as right now, we are four female lawyers who got the license, but I am hopeful that in future, the number will increase," Zahran said, according to RT.com.
