Dr Suad bint Mohammed al Lamkiya

Dr Suad bint Mohammed al Lamkiya was the first woman of colour to be called to The Bar of Ireland. She was called to the Bar in Michaelmas Term 1963 on October 29, after completing her legal studies in Trinity College Dublin in 1959 and training at The Honorable Society of King’s Inns. Dr Suad bint Mohammed al Lamkiya is described as a legal luminary in her birthplace of Oman and globally. During her life and career, she accumulated numerous firsts in the legal field across the world. She was the first law graduate in Oman and is considered to be the first legal adviser in the Sultanate. She was the first Omani woman to hold the position of legal adviser at the Ministry of Legal Affairs. Dr al Lamkiya was also the first female public prosecutor to study law outside the Sultanate and was the world’s second Arab female judge. As well as these remarkable achievements, she was also a lecturer in law. On an international level Dr al Lamkiya represented Oman in various legal agreements including the Free Trade Agreement negotiations with the United States. She was also involved in humanitarian efforts and has been described as a personification of humility, whose underlying message in all her lessons was to remain humble and kind, and to never judge a person or situation without studying it from all angles. Dr al Lamkiya delivered an inspirational speech at the Omani Women’s Day celebrations in 2020, saying: “My advice to women lawyers is to have confidence in whatever they do. They should continue to expand their knowledge because knowledge is what can give them confidence”. Dr Suad bint Mohammed al Lamkiya passed away in May 2021 leaving behind an enormous legacy for the legal field within Oman and across the world. Many Omanis view her as a national treasure.