Saudi Arabia to allow women lawyers in court

Saudi Arabia's Justice Minister says his department is drafting a law that would allow female lawyers to argue legal cases in court for the first time.

Sheikh Mohammed al-Issa told reporters that the bill will be issued in the coming days as part of the Saudi king's "plan to develop the justice system".

The law would mark a major step for female lawyers in the kingdom. Currently, women can work in government and court offices, but cannot argue cases before court. Under the new law, women could argue cases on child custody, divorce and other family issues.

Women in Saudi Arabia are nearly totally segregated from men in public life.