Manama: Saudi Arabia’s justice ministry is considering a programme to have all lawyers in the kingdom take up at least nine legal cases annually on a pro bono basis.
Under the programme to be announced by the ministry soon, the services will be provided for people with limited income and will include legal assistance, defence and follow up, the local daily Okaz reported on Monday.
Each lawyer will have an online account linked to the ministry through which he records the pro bono legal services.
The ministry said the programme would help people who could not afford to pay lawyers’ fees.
“Several people feel frustrated that they cannot follow through with their legal cases due to financial restrictions,” sources told the daily. “The programme aims to achieve justice by giving people with limited income the opportunity to overcome the financial barrier and move ahead with their cases. It also reinforces the ministry’s commitment to humanitarian action, and all lawyers have to contribute,” the sources that were not identified added.
The ministry drew on the experiences of the European Union with regard to pro bono legal services.
“The ministry has studied the European Union experience and the way people with limited income could benefit from the assistance of lawyers through a special programme,” Sultan Bin Zahem, a lawyer who was with a delegation from the ministry to visit the European Union to gain insights into the programme, said.
