Law Practice Law: conditions for registration as a practicing lawyer and the license to practice
- Published by:
- Ministry of Justice
Legal Consultation
Legal Consultation in Dammam for Individuals and Companies Legal Consultations
Sanadna provides legal consultations when a client needs clarity on their legal position before making a decision or determining how to proceed with a matter.
Situations where this may apply
- A client needs to understand their legal position in a particular matter.
- A client needs legal clarification before making a decision.
- A client needs to understand the available ways forward in a particular matter.
Legal framework
The legal consultation itself, as a licensed professional activity, is governed by several rules, including:
- The Law Practice Law requires anyone practicing law to be registered in the roll of practicing lawyers. Registration has conditions that include a qualification in Sharia or law, practical experience, and good conduct, and the license to practice is issued after registration by decision of the Minister of Justice. Articles 3, 7
- A lawyer may not disclose a secret entrusted to them or learned through their profession, even after their engagement ends, unless doing so would contradict a Sharia requirement. Article 23
- The Rules of Professional Conduct for Lawyers require a lawyer not to breach the confidentiality of the consultations they give, and to protect the client's information and documents even after the engagement ends, except in specified cases that include the client's written consent or a legal provision or court order requiring disclosure. Rules 21, 28
Common types of matters
- Receiving an official notice or letter and needing to understand the legal position before responding to it.
- Considering an important decision, such as entering a partnership, buying property, or accepting a settlement offer, and wanting an independent legal opinion first.
- Needing to understand the rights and obligations in a contract or agreement before signing it or acting on it.
- A matter that touches more than one area of law, where it is not yet clear which of Sanadna's services is the right fit.
How a matter may proceed
- The consultation begins with the client explaining their matter, along with whatever documents or information are available about it.
- The lawyer reviews these details and explains the client's legal position and the paths available to them.
- Based on that explanation, the client decides how to proceed, whether on their own or by requesting another of Sanadna's services if the matter calls for it.
Key considerations
- A consultation clarifies the legal position and available paths, and does not necessarily commit to full representation of the matter itself.
- Confidentiality over information the client shares is protected by law, and continues even after any later engagement ends.
- The clearer and more precise the documents and information available about a matter, the more useful the consultation is likely to be.
Documents typically needed
- Any official notice or letter connected to the matter.
- The contract or agreement under consultation, if any.
- A brief summary of the facts of the matter from the client's perspective.
Frequently asked questions
A licensed lawyer listens to the details of your matter and explains your legal position and the paths available to you under Saudi law, without that necessarily committing you to full representation of the matter.
Yes. Under the Law Practice Law, a lawyer may not disclose a secret entrusted to them or learned through their profession, even after their engagement ends, unless doing so would contradict a Sharia requirement. The Rules of Professional Conduct for Lawyers prohibit breaching the confidentiality of consultations, except in the cases they specify, which include the client's written consent or a legal provision or court order.
The Law Practice Law treats giving Sharia and legal consultations, and pleading for others, as the practice of law, and requires anyone practicing it to be registered in the Ministry of Justice roll of practicing lawyers under educational and practical conditions set by the Law. Every person may plead for themselves, while pleading for others is limited to practicing lawyers, with limited exceptions set by the Law.
You usually need one when you want clarity on your legal position before making a decision, or before deciding how to proceed with a matter. Examples include receiving an official notice or letter before responding to it, considering an important decision such as entering a partnership, buying property, or accepting a settlement offer, or needing to understand the rights and obligations in a contract or agreement before signing it.
It helps to prepare any official notice or letter connected to the matter, the contract or agreement under consultation if there is one, and a brief summary of the facts from your perspective. The clearer and more precise the available documents and information, the more useful the consultation is likely to be.
Yes. The matters a consultation addresses include those that touch more than one area of law, where it is not yet clear which of Sanadna's services fits the matter.
Based on the lawyer's explanation, you decide how to proceed with your matter, whether on your own or by requesting another of Sanadna's services if the matter calls for it. A consultation clarifies the legal position and the available paths, and does not necessarily commit to full representation of the matter itself.
Official references
The legal texts and official publications this content relies on.
Articles 3, 7
Law Practice Law: confidentiality of client information
- Published by:
- Ministry of Justice
Rules of Professional Conduct for Lawyers: confidentiality of consultations and client information, and its exceptions
- Published by:
- Ministry of Justice
This is general information based on the cited laws when this page was prepared. It may change, and it is not legal advice on a specific case.