after graduation, al-issa began to work at imam mohammed bin saud islamic university as a faculty member. he became vice president to the board of grievances (a legal body for arbitration) in 2007, and he served there until 2009. he was appointed minister of justice to the saudi cabinet on 14 february 2009 in a major cabinet reshuffle, replacing abdullah bin muhammad al sheikh. al sheikh had been in office since 1992. the appointment of al-issa as minister of justice was part of king abdullah's reform initiatives.