Saudi Arabia lawyers soon to abide by dress code

The Justice Ministry will discuss a proposal within the next fortnight to develop a specific dress code for lawyers so they can be easily recognized in courts, Al-Madinah newspaper reported on Monday quoting a senior official of the ministry.

The ministry’s Director of Information and Publishing Ibrahim al-Tayyar said a lawyer came up with the idea of a dress code and the idea was discussed several times in the local press.

“The ministry had to react to this idea and decide on the possibility of its implementation,” he said.

He said the undersecretary of the ministry has communicated the idea to the committee responsible for the registration of lawyers to discuss.

“The results of the study will be ready in two weeks,” he added.

Murad Subaih, a legal consultant, welcomed the special uniform for the lawyers and said it would distinguish them from Shariah representatives who are not supposed to be in the business.

He recalled that a dress code for lawyers appeared first in France when they decided to wear a black dress following a miscarriage of justice case in one of the country’s courts.

Subaih called for the establishment of a special authority to protect the lawyers’ professional rights and safeguard the business from intruders.

Abdul Karim al-Qadi, a lawyer, appreciated the ministry’s concern and said any development, no matter how little, would be a step in the right direction. He said the lawyers will be easily recognized and they could access courts quickly.

Abdulaziz al-Ossaimi, another lawyer, said the dress code would open up doors for those in the profession to make more money because people will recognize them and seek their services.

He said the dress code should have been introduced the same day the system of lawyers in the Kingdom was approved. “In all countries of the world the lawyers have special dress that are easily distinguishable,” he said.

This article was first published in the Saudi Gazette.