AS A COMPANY LAWYER

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10 reasons for joining the IBJ-IJE

As a company lawyer, you will enjoy the following benefits:

1. 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.
   
   
2. 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.  
   
   
3. 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.  
   
   
4. 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. 
   
   
5. 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. 
   
   
6. 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.  
   
   
7. 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... 
   
   
8. The IBJ-IJE in your region
   We bring the IBJ-IJE closer to you by offering certain activities in Flanders & Wallonia.
   
   
9. Legal information
   Broaden your legal knowledge through content published in our fortnightly newsletter, blog articles and publications.
   
   
10. 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.

CONDITIONS FOR BECOMING A COMPANY LAWYER

1. Law degree
   You hold a master's degree, a licentiate degree or a doctorate in law or in notarial law, issued by a Belgian university or an equivalent foreign degree. You will need to upload a scan of your degree in the application form.
   
   
2. Employment contract
   You are linked by an employment contract or statute to an employer who carries out aneconomic, social, administrative or scientific activity in Belgium, in the public or private sector. This employer is a company, a business federation, or an organisation 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.) 
   
   
3. Mainly legal responsibilities
   

   You provide legal advice, draft legal documents, and/or offer other forms of legal assistance to your company (or group), with your primary responsibilities being of a legal nature. 

4. Intellectual independence 

   You practise the profession of company lawyer with complete intellectual independence. 

 

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PRACTICAL INFORMATION

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). You will find here a summary of the conditions applicable to the IBJ-IJE’s membership fees.

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
20 January 2024 10 March 2024 10 April 2024 10 June 2024 4 September 2024 1 October 2024 1 December 2024		5 February 2024 25 March 2024 26 April 2024 25 June 2024 16 September 2024 14 October 2024 16 December 2024

The conditions summarised above are those from the Law of 1 March 2000. 

In case you disagree with the Council's decision, you may request to be heard by the Council for a new review. To do so, you must send a written request to the IBJ-IJE secretariat (also possible by e-mail). You will then be invited at least fifteen days in advance to attend this meeting. You may be assisted there by a company lawyer or an attorney.

If you have questions or feedback on the application process and requirements, please send an e-mail to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. 

 

Last updated 28 June 2024