10 reasons for joining the IBJ-IJE as a company lawyer
Protected title
You hold the protected title of ‘juriste d’entreprise’ (French) / ‘bedrijfsjurist’ (Dutch), having a legal status for company lawyers that is unique in Europe.
Confidentiality of advice
The internal legal advice you provide is confidential by law and enjoys a level of protection similar to that of external lawyers.
Legal costs insurance
Your legal fees and expenses are covered if you are subject to legal proceedings related to your role as a company lawyer.
Code of Ethics
You adhere to a professional code of ethics that upholds the quality and independence of the profession and ensures ongoing education. This code is committed to maintaining honour and dignity while fostering respectful relationships among (company) lawyers.
Networking
You benefit from our numerous (mostly free) activities, often in collaboration with our partners, and can build and expand your network within our vibrant community of 2500 legal professionals.
Permanent Education
Expand your skills & legal knowledge with our permanent education programme. Enjoy our weekly free webinars and seminars on key legal topics and our programme on Legal Tech and Soft Skills. Earn your required 16 points annually, with the freedom to choose your training.
Practice Groups
Share your best practices and expertise in a confidential setting within our 15+ Practice Groups: CLO • Corporate Law & Governance • Competition Law • Compliance • Criminal Law & Law Enforcement • EDR • ESG • Health • IP & IT • International Company Lawyers • Legal Tech • Paralegals • Privacy • Public Procurement • Social Law • Solo & Small Legal Department…
The IBJ-IJE in your region
We bring the IBJ-IJE closer to you by offering certain activities in Flanders & Wallonia.
Legal information
Broaden your legal knowledge through content published in our fortnightly newsletter, blog articles and publications.
Your voice counts
You have the opportunity to make your voice heard. In doing so, you contribute to the further professionalisation of our profession, with greater societal impact.
Admission requirements
Law degree
You hold a licentiate degree, a Master’s degree or a doctorate in law or in notarial law, issued by a Belgian university or an equivalent foreign degree.
Employment contract
You are bound by an employment contract or statute to an employer who carries out an economic, social, administrative or scientific activity in Belgium, in the public or private sector. This employer is a company, an association of companies or an entity with legal personality.
As an exception, company lawyers who are directors in their organisation and have self-employed status due to certain mandatory rules, can also be admitted.
Mainly legal responsibilities
You provide studies and consultations, draft legal documents, provide advice on the ascertainment of the legal position and provide legal assistance for the benefit of this employer, its affiliated companies or entities, its associations or their members.
You have mainly legal responsibilities.
Intellectual independence
You exercise your profession in complete intellectual independence.
For your membership application to be considered at the Council meeting, the complete application must reach us in sufficient time. Please find below the respective deadlines for receipt of the application for each Council meeting.
| Receipt of dossier before | Council meeting |
|---|---|
| 31 December 2024 | 9 January 2025 |
| 1 February 2025 | 17 February 2025 |
| 15 March 2025 | 31 March 2025 |
| 5 May 2025 | 19 May 2025 |
| 10 June 2025 | 23 June 2025 |
| 5 September 2025 | 22 September 2025 |
| 5 October 2025 | 20 October 2025 |
| 1 December 2025 | 15 December 2025 |
The annual membership fee for company lawyers is 414 € for each calendar year started (if you join the IBJ-IJE from 1 July, you will only pay 207 € for the calendar year of your registration).