During your three-year internship, you’ll already perform the duties of a fully-fledged lawyer. Since this involves a lot of responsibilities, working as a trainee lawyer comes with a number of obligations and formalities. In this article, we will walk you through everything you need to do to start your career smoothly.
"}},{"componentType":"sectionTitle","title":"What is a trainee lawyer?"},{"componentType":"paragraph","richBody":{"value":"As a newly graduated law student, you are legally required to first do a three-year internship with an experienced lawyer (or patron) as a trainee lawyer. Only after successfully completing this internship can you start working as an independent lawyer.
Even though you bear the title of 'trainee', you will have responsibilities, clients and remuneration just like a lawyer. Exactly how much this compensation is depends on the law firm of your choice. In 2023, the annual minimum compensation for first-year trainees was 26.580 euros.
"}},{"componentType":"sectionTitle","title":"Starting as a trainee lawyer: what do I need to do?"},{"componentType":"paragraph","richBody":{"value":"The first step to getting started as a trainee lawyer is to find a trainee position with a recognised traineeship supervisor who has at least 10 years professional experience. You can check for vacancies on the website of your local bar association or upload your CV on the website of the French and German-Speaking Bar Association or Orde van de Vlaamse Balies where lawyers themselves look for trainees.
Since the legal profession is a very broad field, most lawyers operate within a particular specialisation such as criminal law, family law or employment law. Each official specialisation also has its own association registered with the Bar Association. Would you like to do your internship at a law firm within a particular specialisation? Then be sure to check which law firms are affiliated with your preferred specialised association.
Each trainee lawyer must also enter into a written traineeship agreement with their traineeship supervisor. This signed agreement must be submitted to the Bar Association administration office before the start of the internship and, after advice from the Internship Committee, be approved by the Bar Council.
"},"title":"Find a trainee position and supervisor"},{"componentType":"paragraph","richBody":{"value":"Before you can start your traineeship, you must first register on the official list of trainees at the bar where you will be working as a trainee lawyer. To do this, you need to provide as a minimum the following information:
The address of your internship office
Your original diploma (no scans or copies)
A signed internship contract with a recognised traineeship supervisor
Proof of your nationality
Visit the website of your future bar association for a complete overview of all the items you need to register. Only after you have registered can you carry the title of lawyer and wear a lawyer’s robe.
Do you have a foreign qualification and want to become a lawyer in Belgium? Find out more about the conditions laid down in article 428 of the Judicial Code for obtaining the certificate of aptitude for the profession of lawyer (CAPA).
"},"title":"Official registration with the Bar Association"},{"componentType":"paragraph","richBody":{"value":"Taking an oath is also mandatory for trainee lawyers. Please note that you must apply to take the oath yourself via your bar's website or at the bar administration office. Your actual inauguration takes place at the Court of Appeal, usually on a fixed day at the beginning of the month. The exact formalities involved in taking the oath vary from one Bar to another. It is best to ask your local Bar Association about this.
"},"title":"Inauguration at the Court of Appeal"},{"componentType":"paragraph","richBody":{"value":"
A lawyer always works on a self-employed basis. This too requires you to sort out some practical matters before starting your internship:
Registering with the Crossroads Bank for Enterprises (CBE) as a sole proprietor or company through an enterprise counter. This costs around 100 euros.
Applying for a VAT number with the CBE (cost of up to 70 euros, depending on the business counter)
Opening a Belgian professional current account
Opening a third-party account to receive amounts in favour of clients or third parties
Registering with a social insurance fund for self-employed workers
Joining a health insurance fund or changing your status
Setting up the Free Supplementary Pension for the Self-Employed (FSPSE) for maximum tax benefits
As a trainee lawyer, you can also count on the help of the Carrefour des stagiaires, an association of young lawyers whose aim is to help trainee lawyers get started.
"},"title":"Becoming a self-employed trainee lawyer"},{"componentType":"sectionTitle","title":"Opening your accounts as a trainee lawyer?"},{"componentType":"paragraph","richBody":{"value":"Discover the specialised services and advantages of ING Privalis tailored to your needs.
"}}]},"hasMacro":false,"id":"3e5f7f61-b627-440a-981f-d6fd0aee9025","localeString":"en-GB","mainHeaderZone":{"backLink":{"textLink":{"text":"All sectors' expertise","url":"/en/business/my-sector"}},"componentType":"editorialHeader","coreHeader":{"body":"Starting as a trainee lawyer soon? Congratulations! That means you’ve already worked hard to obtain your law degree. But before you can start, there are a few more steps you need to complete.","title":"Starting as a trainee lawyer: everything you need to know"},"date":"2024-07-18","readingTime":3},"publishDate":"2024-07-18T17:23:39.139+02:00"}}